Plans for hundreds of new homes between the Wokingham and Bracknell border would lead to a ‘choked thoroughfare’ on major roads, councillors have warned.
The latest chunk of 215 homes for the South Wokingham Strategic Development is moving ahead. This master plan will see 2,500 homes built along with two new primary schools, shops and neighbourhood centres.
It consists of an urban extension to the south of Wokingham, covering land south of A329 London Road and north of the London to Reading railway line. The site is currently used as agricultural land.
Much of the South Wokingham Strategic Development has already been completed, including new homes in Montague Park, as well as Montague Floreat Primary school and a neighbourhood centre.
Due to the scale of the plans, it has been broken down into smaller phases covering different areas of land.
The 215 homes would be built on land east of the South Wokingham Distributor Road, where work is currently underway.
It will also be north-west to the new four-way roundabout by William Heelas Way.
The homes would consist of 139 privately owned homes and 75 affordable homes. This comprises 35 per cent affordability.
Plans indicate there would be 37 one-bedroom apartments, 34 two-bedroom apartments, 29 two-bedroom houses, 96 three-bedroom houses and seven four-bedroom houses. Some houses will be provided with a garage.
A total of 408 parking spaces will be provided, including 43 visitor and 41 unallocated spaces.
But Crowthorne Parish Council has objected to the plans during a consultation period.
The parish council has expressed concerns over the impact of the new residents on the highway network.
In an objection written to Wokingham Borough Council, the council said Old Wokingham Road ‘is not capable of taking the traffic that would want to use it’.
The objection cited a recent petition for better safety measures at the junction between Old Wokingham Road and Easthampstead Road.
It said: “Traffic flow along this stretch of road is getting increasingly worse, following the Buckler’s Park development.
“And with an increase of vehicular movements and weight there is the obvious increased risk of traffic incidents along this stretch.
“There is no more capacity on existing infrastructure for additional local housing. The knock-on effect of impact to residents of Crowthorne will be heavily congested conurbation with lack of amenities with a chocked thoroughfare to Bracknell and the A329.”
Bracknell Forest Council has further stated the homes should not be occupied until work to complete the new roundabout between Waterloo Road, Old Wokingham Road and Peacock Lane.
The plans have been validated by Wokingham Borough Council and a decision is yet to be made.
