'The village is already becoming over developed'

Controversial plans for 16 homes at Woolhampton have been resubmitted.

The scheme, on land at the junction of Bath Road and New Road Hill, was rejected by West Berkshire Council in 2020.

But developer JPP Land Ltd has again submitted the same proposal.

Around 30 people have objected to the scheme.

“The village is already becoming over developed with Reed Gardens and countless backland developments of houses,” said Patrick Wiseman. "The local infrastructure will not be able to cope with this increase.

“The village does not need this development. The impact on local residents would be huge and detrimental.”

Others are furious at being 'misled'.

“At the public consultation, we, the villagers, were informed that we had the choice of either the Reed Gardens development or New Road Hill,” said Felicity Griggs. “To renege on both would mean we were blatantly misled.”

The proposal would see around 0.88 hectares of field land developed to the south west of the village. It includes six affordable homes, including social housing.

“We moved to this area seven years ago to start a family in a village surrounded by beautiful countryside,” said Roger Stace.

“The developments we have seen in the village are slowly chipping away at the beauty of the area and putting extra pressure on infrastructure and amenities which are already stretched beyond capacity.”

Midgham Parish Council has also objected to the scheme, and is lobbying to keep the area out of the emerging Local Plan for West Berkshire.

The plans will go before West Berkshire Council’s eastern area planning committee on Wednesday, May 11.