A battle to stop 23 new homes on the fields formerly used by Hurst Show has started up again.
Six months ago Wokingham Borough Council refused to give planning permission for the homes in School Road, Hurst.
But now Helmsley Land is appealing against that, aiming to get the go-ahead for the scheme. The fields were also the former grazing of much-loved village character, William the horse.
Both sides of the debate about the homes will be able, at a Government appointed inspector’s discretion, to take part in the discussion at an informal hearing into the appeal starting on September 4 at 10am. It’s expected to take one to two days.
Those wanting to go to the hearing at the borough council offices in Shute End, Wokingham, need to register with the council in advance. People wanting to speak should contact the inspector on the day.
Hurst Parish Council, which opposes the homes, says 378 letters of objection have been submitted. The council in its statement for the hearing says: “The appeal scheme is highly controversial as it would develop a rural, greenfield site which is valued by the local community.”
It adds: “This scheme would fundamentally and adversely change the rural nature of the village of Hurst in an unsustainable and unplanned way.”
There would be “unacceptable impacts on biodiversity, local infrastructure including flooding and drainage, the landscape and character of the area, and pedestrian and highway safety.”
St Nicholas Primary at Hurst said in June that the school was at full capacity with 140 pupils. Also in June, St Nicholas Pre-School said they were full, with a long waiting list.
For Helmsley Land and Penelope Clayden, who are seeking permission, Douglas Bond, in his documents for the hearing says: “The benefits that would accrue from the provision of 23 dwellings considerably outweigh any adverse impacts.
“As far as adverse impacts are concerned, the appellant’s evidence as a whole shows that the impact upon the countryside, landscape and the details associated with the scheme are either acceptable or at worst would be modest, when considered in the overall balance.
“These do not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme.” The proposals were sustainable development so planning permission could be granted.
The Planning Inspectorate said an informal hearing was a round table discussion led by the inspector who could ask questions. Everyone could make their case known. An inquiry, as in the appeal for 200 homes at Lodge Road, Hurst, was the most formal appeal procedure as it usually involved larger or more complicated appeals.
Documents about the scheme are available at https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/fastwebpl/detail.asp?AltRef=230074
