Racecourse Development seek to vary terms over key bridge
A condition which was secured by West Berkshire Council in 2009, when outline permission was granted for the 1,500-home development, states that the key bridge would be completed, together with associated improvements, by developer David Wilson Homes before any more than 250 homes were completed at the western area of the site.
The reason for Condition 32 states: “The timing and delivery of these road improvements is crucial to the acceptability of this proposal”, and “to ensure the scheme is not detrimental to the highway network and safeguards the amenities of adjoining occupiers.”
Now David Wilson Homes has submitted a further application requesting that a further 421 homes be completed before work on the bridge is finished, now expected to be in the autumn of 2015.
The new date follows delays to the construction of the bridge as a result of works related to the electrification of the Paddington line of the railway.
Project manager for the Racecourse Development, Daniel Pavely, said the original condition “was to safeguard the delivery of the bridge works, which we consider has now served its purpose and is evidenced by the construction of the bridge, with scheduled completion during the autumn of 2015”.
“From our discussions and also those that have been held with key stakeholders and officers, we consider the alteration is now necessary to reflect the onsite activity and is in response to those events that are considered to be largely attributable to third party matters outside our control; this unfortunately has restricted David Wilson Homes from being able to advance the bridge works as originally intended.”
David Wilson Homes said that the 250 homes would be nearing completion in 2015 and that not going ahead with further builds would have an “unquestionable impact” on the delivery of the houses as part of West Berkshire Council’s five-year housing supply and the provision of affordable housing via Sovereign housing. It added that delaying the additional builds would “prolong disturbances to residents”.
West Berkshire Council spokesperson Keith Ulyatt confirmed that the council would be able to step in and finish the bridge if the developer could not. He said: “The council has a bond from the applicants so that should the bridge work cease for any reason the council will have sufficient funding to complete the bridge.”
At a Greenham Parish Council meeting held last week, local councillors voted no objection to the change in the condition by a majority.
Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Greenham) summarised their position, and said: “I am struggling to find a reason to object to this change in the condition.
“When the 421 houses in the Western Area are completed all of the traffic from these houses is going to enter Stroud Green. It doesn’t make a difference if this is decided this year or next year, it is still going to happen.
“The reason why the condition was put there was to make sure the bridge got built. It is now half-way through being built. I have been opposed to the whole application from the beginning as you all know, but with the application put through, our role now is to get the best outcome for our residents. I couldn’t support an objection to this change.”
The proposal will be decided by West Berkshire Council before the statutory determination date of December 30.