Dozens of new homes will be built in Charvil despite warnings that its infrastructure will not be able to support more residents.
A total of 75 homes will be built by Hicks Developments on land west of Park Lane. The new homes will be accessed via Park Lane, and some 40% will be “affordable”.
The land is currently ‘mixed grassland and remnants of a temporary builder’s yard’, and technically sits within designated countryside, according to a committee report.
The proposal includes a crossing to connect to the nearby Piggott School, which was fought for by former MP for the area Theresa May.
Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee approved the plans on Wednesday, December 11 after hearing objections from Charvil Parish Council and ward members.
Rob Jones from Charvil parish council said that despite the plans receiving a ‘significant number of objections’, residents felt their ‘views have been ignored’.
The authority said that public transport in the area is poor, and more homes would worsen existing pressure and congestion on the roads.
While officers had argued the site was sustainable for future occupancy, Mr Jones said this ‘does not reflect the reality’ for existing residents.
Councillor Katrin Harding, ward member for Thames, added that a walk to the closest bus stop would take longer than driving to Twyford Railway station, causing many residents to be overly reliant on cars.
She added that many people don’t feel safe to cycle around Old Bath Road, further calling into question the sustainable transport options of the scheme.
Although developers are conditioned to pay tens of thousands towards bus journeys, chairwoman of the committee Councillor Carol Jewell admitted that this would ‘not make a huge amount of difference’.
Cllr Harding further said there was already ‘strained capacity of local services’ to cope with the ‘excessive growth in the village’.
Councillor Wayne Smith said: “We want our commitments that we’re going to et some of the infrastructure that Charvil needs.
“We’ve got to make sure that if this goes through tonight, we get the proper conditions so people of Charvil can see that we’ve done our best for them.”
Although developers will pay a Community Infrastructure Levy fee, this does not legally have to go towards primary care.
A planning official said it would be ‘unwise’ to reject the plan based on primary care, which the council ultimately has no authority over.
Ultimately all members of the planning committee voted in favour of the plans.
