A CAMPAIGN group will meet before the end of the year to discuss next steps in its mission to prevent the building of 4,500 new homes in Arborfield.
SOLVE Hall Farm is inviting members of the public to attend two presentations in December – date to be decided – at the village hall at Arborfield Cross in anticipation of the local plan update, which they expect will be published this month.
The gathering will give visitors the opportunity to learn about the conditions of the LPU and the group’s plan moving forward, with members sharing concerns over the area’s suitability for development.
Paul Stevens, a SOLVE Hall Farm representative, suspects there will be a small reduction in the quantity of houses set to be built on the site in the updated plans, but worries that alternative sites have not been utilised.
He said: “We’re expecting the LPU to still have most of the houses in Hall Farm, although we suspect it will be a few less, I don’t think it’ll be a significant number, in the region of 4,000 houses at least. It’s been alluded to that Hall Farm had the most objections.
“Ashridge and Twyford are not in the LPU – Berkeley Homes would have been told.”
Members of the SOLVE Hall Farm group believe the development would compound the village’s transport issues during rush hour. They have also cited issues regarding biodiversity and the fact that a portion of the build is set to take place on a flood plain.
Mr Stevens has put forward Ashridge and Twyford as viable alternatives.
He explained: “Ashridge is not in the green belt and could offer 3,000 homes. Twyford is in the green belt but it’s on the Elizabeth Line and could accommodate 2,500 homes. Together, that’s more than Hall Farm, and would involve less infrastructural costs.”
Wokingham Borough Council insist that many locations across the borough have been promoted for future development, and that they are being assessed impartially, in line with national planning policy and guidance.
Cllr Lindsay Ferris, executive member for planning and local plan, said: “In preparing the Local Plan there have been several public consultations where residents, businesses and all those interested have been able to give their views on these sites. We’re therefore committed to involving residents in our decisions as much as possible, but we haven’t made any decisions on our future Local Plan at this stage.
“In accordance with our Local Development Scheme, we’re planning to consult on a Regulation 19 Local Plan in the coming months. This will offer the opportunity to comment before it goes forward to a planning inspector for examination in public, which we would expect to take place next year.”
According to Mr Stevens, Arborfield and Newland Parish Council has allocated funds to employ a planning barrister, who is laying out why the development plan is not viable with regards to transport and infrastructure. He mentioned the introduction of an estimated 9,000 cars, the necessity to build another bridge over the M4 and sewage.
Mr Stevens said: “We’re still campaigning and fighting. We’re waiting to hear the LPU – it’s possible it could be something we would agree with, although there’s always that suspicion it’ll come back unchanged.”
SOLVE Hall Farm has set up a JustGiving page to help fund their campaign, raising £655 of their £5,000 target at the time of writing.
To contribute to the cause, visit: https://tinyurl.com/47wnfrbh
