Anger flared up in Bracknell on Thursday over plans to build 40 homes on wildlife-rich green space.
Residents and nature-lovers in Winkfield Row warned Bracknell Forest councillors they risked a judicial review, despite the site already being earmarked for development in the borough’s local plan.
Politicians and neighbours have all been angry for months over the loss of open space which is currently home to badgers, deer and hedgehogs but councillors had to come to a decision on detailed plans for 40 homes behind Carnation Hall off Chavey Down Road.
The site’s allocation in Bracknell Forest’s local plan limited the committee’s ability to oppose the scheme in principle, but biodiversity impacts remained a central dispute.
The councillors had to focus on practical issues surrounding sewers and the height of a block of flats, but residents argued new evidence of wildlife activity had not been properly considered.
Meanwhile planning officers maintained that a decision on ecological matters had already been addressed at the outline stage.
Speaking for residents, neighbour Avril Haubrich said she regularly sees foxes, deer, badgers and hedgehogs crossing the land and submitted photographic evidence showing established wildlife routes.
She criticised the ecological assessment and the reliance on mitigation such as “badger doors”, arguing these would fragment habitats and obstruct hedgehog movement.
She said: “You are being asked to vote blind—on an incomplete, inaccurate and legally flawed record. Proceeding tonight puts the council at risk of a judicial review”.
Ms Haubrich said the Environment Act 2021 requires biodiversity to be integrated at all planning stages and argued the site functions as a wildlife corridor rather than low-value land.
She also claimed hedgehogs were omitted from reports, badger activity understated, and that objections from the Badger Society had not been reflected.
In addition, she said trees shown as retained habitat were not actually owned by the developer, giving a misleading impression of their ecological commitment.
Under national rules, developments must deliver at least a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain, measured in habitat units. In this case, 8 of 9.2 units would be provided on site, with a further 1.04 units off site.
Officers advised that, although the application pre-dated mandatory net gain requirements, a minimum uplift had already been secured through the outline permission and Section 106 agreement.
The council’s legal officer said protected species impacts had been properly assessed and that biodiversity matters were not open for reconsideration at this stage. She advised members they could lawfully determine the application.
Councillors remained conflicted. Cllr Patrick Smith described it as “an incredibly difficult application”, adding that such decisions can feel “incredibly unrewarding”.
Cllr Tony Virgo argued Bracknell’s village character should be preserved and said he would prefer refusal in favour of a more sympathetic scheme.
In the end, councillors focused on practical issues such as the height of an apartment block on the site, and the application was approved. However, three vocal contributors, including Cllr Virgo, were excluded from voting as they attended the meeting remotely.
