Public consultation launches alternative development to 2,500 homes in Thatcham

Developers have launched a public consultation for an alternative housing strategy for West Berkshire Council’s local plan.

The alternative scheme comprises two planning developments, one at Henwick Park and another at Colthrop Village, with the latter providing a new road bridge.

This will provide 1,175 homes in Thatcham as opposed to the 2,500 homes from the proposed North East Thatcham development scheme, which is being considered in the West Berkshire Council local plan draft.

Croudace Homes and the Colthrop Village Consortium, each with their own development applications – one to the north of the town and one to the south – merged plans and launched a website in January of this year.

Online “community engagement” has now begun, as the parties consult on a masterplan for the site alongside a “virtual exhibition” comprising a series of documents.

A video has also been posted to the website with planning consultant Roger Tustain summarising the proposal.

He said the proposed plans will have a lesser impact on the “countryside surrounding Thatcham”, “less impact on the highways” and will “protect the character of Thatcham”.

The virtual consultation can be found at: https://alternativestrategyforthatcham.co.uk/virtual-exhibition/

Feedback received will be submitted to West Berkshire Council.

A planning consultation for the 2,500 home North East Thatcham development has also been launched.