Dozens of new homes will be built in a ‘picturesque’ village despite warnings the council ‘could hardly find a more unsuitable’ plan.
Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee gave the green light to plans to build 38 homes on greenfield land off Longwater Road, Finchampstead.
Hundreds of objections had been launched against the plans put forward by developers Catesby Strategic Land Ltd and Stonebond Properties Ltd.
The number of homes had been reduced from 40 to 38 homes, with 60 per cent of the total being affordable.
Arguments were made by councillors and residents that the site would not be sustainable for new homes due to a lack of public transport, close by amenities and that the area was already producing enough affordable homes.
David Cornish from Finchampstead Parish Council said while he ‘welcomes provision for social housing’, you could ‘hardly find a more unsuitable application than here’.
Resident Simon Weeks, also former executive member for planning, told the planning committee: “The nearest shops, post office, doctor, dentist, vet, cafe and petrol station are all located 2.5 kilometres away and at least a 35 to 40 minute walk along a busy B-road, which has no pavements or lights along a significant portion.”
Mr Weeks said the Finchampstead village already had 1,410 affordable homes planned across various sites.
But Ian Humble from developer Catesby Estates said the site represents an ‘entirely logical and sustainable location for development’, pointing out the homes would be within a ten minute walk to a primary and pre-school, farm shop and pub.
Mr Humble further claimed locals ‘simply cannot afford to live in the area’, with 674 applications for affordable housing in Finchampstead alone.
Speaking against the plans, ward member for Finchampstead Councillor Rebecca Margetts said: “It’s quite misleading to suggest the farmshop is a local convenience store when it offers products like seafood, rare breed steaks, gava eggs and truffle salt.”
Developers will contribute £30,000 to local transport services, through which there is currently one bus per week.
Councillor Wayne Smith said the lack of public transport in the area was ‘dreadful’, and it was a ‘fantasy’ that the developer contribution would lead to enough services.
A highways officer said the council would ‘strive to deliver the best possible service for the community’.
Planning officers warned the reasons for concern were not enough to refuse the application, due to the council’s lack of a five year land supply.
Councillor Martijin Andrea said a government inspector, if taken to appeal, would see reasons for refusal ‘not as significant’ as the benefits of providing more affordable homes.
Evenutally, the plans were approved by councillors.
