Plans for 31 park homes on Barkham Ride in Finchamstead have been approved by officers at Wokingham borough council.
The application sought approval for the the demolition of the existing dwelling and material change of use of land at 31 Barkham Ride as an extension to Victoria Gardens Residential Park Home estate for the siting of 31 park homes, and the construction of an ancillary community building and park office.
Finchampstead parish council had raised no objections to the plans, however whilst they welcomed the reduction in park homes, they felt the density was too high.. Barkham parish council objected to the application due to the proposed high density of development, additional traffic and strain on medical services.
There were four other comments in support of the plans, and four against during the statutory consultation.
The site is currently occupied by a large single dwelling with woodland, and tree planting to the boundaries.
The site for development encompasses 31 Barkham Ride and an informal area of open space that is connected to Victoria Gardens, a mobile home park, which lies to the east. A fence divides the two.
Victoria Gardens is a development of single storey mobile homes (currently 25 homes, plus a sales office and two caravans which are stored on the site but not occupied).
Beyond that is 33 Barkham Ride which currently comprises a single large dwelling, however an outline application to re-develop the site for 56 dwellings was previously approved.
Immediately to the west of the site is Rooks Nest Country Park, which is the council’s strategic SANG. To the north is an area of woodland and to the east of the woodland is Fir Cottage Road and Gilbert Way; residential areas primarily comprising two storey dwellings.
The site’s perimeter is largely well defined by trees and hedgerow. As a result, the site is well contained, with the existing vegetation providing a significant barrier to adjoining land uses and Barkham Ride.
The plans were approved by officers on June 16, with a section 106 agreement in place that will see the developer offset the costs of the development with the council. The amount involved was undisclosed.
