Plans submitted for 35 homes in Pangbourne

Pangbourne Beaver Proper-ties Ltd has submitted a hybrid application featuring outline plans for 35 homes, of which 40 per cent will be affordable, and public amenity space to land north of Pangbourne Hill and a full application for access to the site.
The site was one of two identified by West Berkshire Council as preferred sites for development in the village, saying that it has the potential for around 35 properties in a low density development.
However, the council added that work would be needed to investigate the impact on the Pangbourne Hill junction.
The developer said that only 78 new properties have been built or granted planning permission in the village between 2006 and 2013, with only four of them designated as affordable housing.
A public exhibition drew in 130 residents to hear about the plans, with 28 questionnaires completed, of which 57 per cent agreed that additional housing would help maintain the social and economic viability of Pangbourne.
However, 46 per cent of responses said that they thought the site was not appropriate for housing.
Pangbourne resident Andrzej Kopec has filed an objection to the plans, saying that the proposed development is sited on one of the tallest hills in the area and would be visible from Purley, Whitchurch and Lower Basildon, which contradicts recommendations in West Berkshire’s Landscape Sensitivity Assessment 2011.
Mr Kopec added that the proposed density of housing will be around 500 per cent greater than that in the surrounding area, while the site lies within an area of archaeological importance, including a Roman cemetery and deposits being found north of the site.
The traffic impact was also flagged by Mr Kopec, who said that medium-sized vehicles turning left from the A340 on to Pangbourne Hill often straddled both lanes while manoeuvring.
He added that the A340 is not suitable for construction traffic and that the bottom of the hill witnesses scenes of gridlock when delivery vehicles parked nearby.