Kingsclere objects to Vistry Group's 200-home Porch Farm development
Plans for a 200-home housing development on the outskirts of Kingsclere have been met with almost unanimous objection from villagers for a number of reasons.
The Porch Farm plans, submitted by Vistry Group, have received 323 public objections and only four public showings of support.
Traffic concerns are a key concern for objectors, as well as the development’s geographical location, and the increased pressure it could put on local amenities due to its considerable size.
If the 200-home development was built on the west side of Kingsclere, it would expand the village by around 20 per cent.
In an objection letter, Tom Fryer of Garrett Close, Kingsclere, said: “This development will ruin the area.
“The infrastructure to support this development doesn't exist – the nearby schools and health services are already stretched to their limit, and the A339 between Basingstoke and Newbury is already extremely busy.”
The development would be situated just south of the A339, opposite the Shell petrol station, with a new entrance road being placed on a one-mile stretch of road that has seen more than 16 accidents in the last five years.
Danielle Auld, another Kingsclere resident who has objected to the plans, said: “Villagers fear that failure to improve the material safety of this road, combined with the additional traffic that such a development would generate, would put all users of the Kingsclere bypass at risk.
“With further traffic generated by the Manydown and Sandleford developments, between which the Porch Farm site is sandwiched, the A339 would be likely to become a traffic choke point for drivers travelling between Basingstoke, Newbury and the villages in between.”
Many objectors also believe that the location of the Porch Farm development is too far from the village centre, not allowing for new residents to be effectively integrated into Kingsclere life.
They also believe that because of the distance, those who live in the new development would choose to drive into the village, increasing traffic and putting more pressure on already limited parking.
In another objection letter, Mark Prater, of Fieldgate Drive, Kingsclere, said: “Because of the distances involved, new residents will no doubt drive to and from the village centre to access shops/school/doctors surgery etc, creating even more local traffic and parking chaos.
“At best, this will further undermine the character of the village; at worst, it is dangerous.
“The village’s through and side roads cannot cope with any more traffic and parking is always at a premium.”
Some objectors were also concerned about the ecological harm the new development could do.
Kingsclere resident Louisa Nolte said in her objection letter: “The proposed site is on the edge of an AONB [Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty] and more importantly will be seen clearly from it due to the lie of the land.
“It is host to many different species including brown hares, owls and bats and the hedgerows are teeming with many species of birds.
“Porch Farm, with its ancient footpaths, is the main walking route in Kingsclere, extremely popular with residents and with those who live in neighbouring villages due to its panoramic views and links with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“The Porch Farm development would destroy a place cherished by a community.”