Objections to floating homes near Theale

Concerns over rare birds, additional housing and replacement bridge

OBJECTIONS have been pouring in against proposals for floating homes near Theale.

Berfield Ltd wants to build 24 of the ‘Can Float’ homes, designed to rise and fall with water levels during flooding, along with a new hamlet comprising 201 homes on the north west side of Theale lake.

The developers said that the floating homes are an innovative way to increase the number of homes in areas deemed unsuitable for housing because of flood risk.

Access is proposed from Hangar Road through replacing the existing weight- and width- restricting swing bridge with a lifting one.

A flood alleviation scheme is also being proposed.

The homes will be built near Burghfield Sailing Club, which will be upgraded with money from the development.

While sailing club members have supported the plans, nearby residents and parish councillors have raised concerns.

Fearing for the impact on wildlife, residents have submitted a petition to West Berkshire Council to save Berkshire’s nightingales.

The birds are on the red list of birds of conservation concern and it is feared that the new homes would destroy the habitat where 50 pairs of the endangered birds nest.

The chairman of the Berkshire Ornithological Club’s conservation group, Dr Renton Righelato, said: “If we are serious in the UK about protecting a threatened species, then this development cannot go ahead.”

Burghfield, Holybrook, Sulhamstead and Theale parish councils have all objected to the plans.

The district councillor for Theale, Alan Macro (Lib Dem), said that the floating homes had given the developers a lot of publicity but parish councillors and residents had not been blinded by it.

Mr Macro said that, while the site fell in Burghfield Parish, Theale would feel the impact because of the development’s close proximity for shops and schooling.

West Berkshire Council is looking to build a replacement primary school in Theale, which it wants to open by September next year.

Plans for 325 homes in the village, known as Lakeside, are also being assessed by the council.

A previous scheme for 350 homes and offices on the site was granted in 2007.

Mr Macro said that, if both developments went ahead, Theale would end up with a new school that wouldn’t be big enough to cope with the higher demand.

And the closest alternative, Burghfield St Mary’s Primary, would be impossible to walk to safely and not easy to drive to.

The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust has also objected, saying that a break in the green corridor of the canal would be inappropriate on an undeveloped site.

The trust also said that the lifting bridge could see residents left with no direct access to Theale if it broke down.

It added that conflict between the interests of boaters and resident motorists in using the bridge seemed inevitable.