Mixed reaction to Cold Ash school housing proposal

The application will allow the school to create additional boarding accommodation to the northern part of the main school site, for lower school pupils.
It will include associated living and study areas and staff accommodation. Both new buildings at the Hermitage Road school will be two-storey.
Cold Ash Parish Council raised no objections to the plans, subject to standard building noise conditions being put into place. However one resident, Mike Davis of Red Shute Hill, raised objections on various grounds including drainage, construction development and site debris.
He said: “I have concerns arising from the long period of construction noise including the chainsaw and stump removal of a large number of trees, construction material and plant and, particularly, site debris and mud on the steep, narrow and dangerous road outside my property. Special controls are needed if the project is approved.”
A statement by the application agent, The Bush Consultancy, said: “The plan has been derived primarily to address internal operation and functional requirements.
“In order to retain the important character of the site, particularly from the highway frontage, careful consideration has been given to the building positions and also the setting of the floor levels.”
A decision will be made by West Berkshire Council by the end of January.