Furious residents have reacted strongly to plans for homes on land at Watmore Lane in Winnersh.
A consultation opened last week into an outline application from property developer Taylor Wimpey for 111 homes on the 5.94 hectare site.
Some 40% of the homes – equal to 45 properties – have been defined as “affordable”, including first home, shared ownership and affordable rental properties.
Previous applications to build on the same site have been refused or subsequently withdrawn.
In August 2023 an application for 234 homes on the same site was refused.
Outline permission for 250 homes was withdrawn in September 2018, and a similar outline application in August 2013 for up to 150 homes was also refused.
The site is close to the proposed Winnersh Farm development, which currently remains undecided after being submitted in 2021. This would see 87 units on Wokingham Borough Council-owned land.
In its new application, Taylor Wimpey said: “Since the refusal almost 10 years ago, apart from changes to national and Development Plan policy, the site has been proposed to be allocated for residential development within the draft emerging Local Plan.”
It cited benefits of the development, including the provision of approximately 162 temporary construction jobs, approximately £274,000 per year in additional Council Tax revenue and approximately £1 million in New Homes Bonus payments.
Representative of many objections already received, Jeffrey Elphick wrote: “I highly object to the application going ahead for the building of an additional 111 dwellings.
“The main single access route planned for Maidensfield and Watmore Lane poses a risk to the local area, in that traffic flow will increase on two lanes that weren’t built for this sort of use.”
Melanie Carleton-Morley added: “This application has been turned down before, and for good reason.
“The site/location is unsuitable due to the amount of extra traffic that would be created.”
Courtney Gibson added: “We don’t need anymore houses in Winnersh. The infrastructure in the area is not built for the people who already reside here let alone any more.”
Kalim Aziz said: “It seems ridiculous that the developer is allowed to apply for the same by just changing a few bits here and there.
“The council’s responsibility is towards the people who live here and not some money-grabbing developer.”
The consultation period will close on November 23.
For more information search planning number 232666 on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
