Thatcham A4 housing plan ‘too dominant’

Residents have been joined by Thatcham Town Council in objecting to plans for a proposed housing development on the A4 Bath Road.

The council’s planning consultant, Chris Watts, said that the density of building 38 properties on land that currently has just six houses was too high.

Speaking at a planning committee meeting on Monday, he said: “It’s clearly a significant level of development on the gateway to Thatcham, but it’s intended to announce you are coming into Thatcham.

“Overall, I think it’s wrong. I think it’s too big and too dominant.”

The land does have planning permission for 11 flats, granted on appeal last year to Newbury housebuilder Ressance.

However, the firm’s latest plan shows that the number of

properties would increase, with six three-bedroom houses, and

18 two-bedroom and 14

one-bedroom apartments, in three-storey blocks, with underground parking.

Town councillors also raised objections to the scheme for reasons including overdevelopment, not enough bin storage, exit road on to the A4 Bath Road and no turning point for delivery lorries.

Town councillor Lynne Pettyfer (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said: “It’s going to be a nightmare at rush hour (coming out onto Bath Road).”

Town and district councillor Sheila Ellison (Con, Thatcham North) said: “I’m not happy that there is nowhere for delivery lorries to turn round, and it does seem rather a lot of buildings on the plot.”

So far, eight residents have raised objections to the scheme.

Ressance has explained the application, saying that the reason behind the increase in the number of properties was driven by a demand for housing in that particular area, and that the plot, already in urban use, was of a sufficient size to take the redevelopment.

West Berkshire Council is expected to make a decision early next year.