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Welcome to www.savepincentshill.co.uk
PLEASE GO TO THE NEWS AND UPDATES PAGE WHICH CONTAINS MORE INFORMATION
UPDATE 13th APRIL 2022
The District Planning Committe voted 7 members to decline and 2 members to accept the current planning application to build on Pincents Hill and no doubt a full report on tonights' verdict will be published on their website. Michael Goves' office has confirmed that it is filing its papers on the Call In as there is full agreement from the two West Berkshire's committees to decline the application.
There is a possibility that this application could go to Appeal, but one of the reasons the writer believes is that on certain days of the year when the amount of traffic to and from IKEA is so great that it would block access to and from the proposed development for two to three hours. The Councillors of the Committee agreed with this assessment and that they did not feel that it was safe for emergency vehicles to be travelling down what is effectively a winding and in some places very narrow lane, more a bridleway/foothpath barely wide enough for a single car with no room for pedestrians who in places have to climb up banks for safety. It is a feature of the countryside with its ancient hedgerows and trees and nobody would like it changed and the hill and its lane are all part of the quiet character of the area.
The writer believes that when a firm called B&M takes over the Next Premises, the traffic at the Savacentre will accerbate the traffic problems even further which she believes will, in all probability cause even more delays. This site, because of backed up traffic, admittedly only on a limited number of days a year, could be landlocked which with the unsuitability of the proposed emergency access, creates real safety issues.
At this moment in time it is impossible to see a satisfactory solution to the traffic problems and it would appear that any developer would have to resolve these first before any future development application could be considered.
A huge big thank you (which will never be enough) to all of you who have worked so hard over the years and those who have recently joined us for all your support - great and small - believe me it all helps. Special thanks to our MP the Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma for his dedication to this cause, our Councillors Tony Linden and Joanne Stewart, Mary Bedwell from Holybrook Parish Council, Clive Taylor from Tilehurst Parish Council, all of whom have had years of trying to protect the hill. No forgetting new Facebook members and speakers at the Committee Meetings Ailsa Claybourne and Simon Stollard.
Also last but not least, a debt of gratitude and thanks to the Councillors of the two Committee Meetings who did not follow the Officers' recommendation to support this application under enforced pressure of possible costs against the Council. We thank you sincerely. The writer is fully aware that both she and the various opposition groups are very, very biased but we thought our reasons for opposing on the whole are considered and sound and thank you for agreeing with us.
UPDATE 1st APRIL 2022
As you are probably aware that this planning application has now been referred to the District Planning Committe for determination on 13th April at 6.30 p.m. at the Council Offices in Newbury and for this purpose a site visit has been arranged for 6th April to start at 9.30 a.m.at Tilehurst Parish Council Offices, Highview, Calcot. Lydia Mather's Memo shown below. I would make one slight amendment that in that Memo it is stated that visitors to the site need to obtain permission from the owner of the land for access, this is not strictly true as there are public footpaths on that site and you do not need permission from anyone to use them, but please observe all the other requests.
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31 March 2022
To Whom it May Concern Development and Planning Service
Council Offices
Market Street
Newbury
Berkshire RG14 5LD
Our Ref: 19/00113/OUTMAJ Your Ref:
Tel: 01635 503023
Fax: 01635 519408
e-mail: planningcommittee@westberks.gov.uk
Dear Sir/Madam
APPLICATION NUMBER: 19/00113/OUTMAJ
PROPOSAL: A hybrid application comprising the following elements: Outline application for up to 165 dwellings on the western part of the site and a 450sqm (GIA) of floorspace building in use class E to be offered initially to provide a community healthcare hub under use E(e), and excluding use E(g); Engineering operations on the area covered by the outline application to create suitable gradients for internal site roads and development platforms for the residential development; and FUL application for change of use of the eastern part (8ha) of the site for use as public parkland, to be protected from development in perpetuity. All matters except for access to the site are to be reserved. Matters for which detailed approval are sought are: The detailed design of the vehicular access to the site from Pincents Lane and associated turning area, the location emergency vehicular access to the site and the locations of pedestrian and cycling accesses to the site.
SITE: Land East Of, Pincents Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire
I write with respect to the above application. On 19th January 2022, the Council’s Eastern Area Planning Committee resolved to refuse planning permission for the above proposal. Under the Council’s Constitution the application has now been referred to the Council’s District Planning Committee for determination. The District Planning Committee considers, on behalf of the Council, recommendations from Area Planning Committees where deemed necessary by the Development Control Manager.
The Committee wishes to visit the site before reaching a decision on the above application and a visit has been arranged for Wednesday 6th April 2022 at 9.30am. The meeting point shall be at the Calcot Centre, Highview, off Royal Avenue, Calcot, RG31 4XD.
The purpose of the visit, which you may wish to attend, is for the Committee to inspect the site. The site visit is not a forum to discuss the merits of the application. Furthermore, members of the public need to be aware that access to the site is at the discretion of the land owner or their representative, who may refuse permission for third parties to enter a site.
Members of the public do have the right to speak, for or against an application, at the relevant Planning Committee that will follow.
If you choose to be at the site visit with the intention of pointing out any features you think the Committee Members should observe, you should wait in a public area close to the site access and make yourself known when the group arrives. No special arrangements can be made in advance. Interested parties may request that the Committee view a site from adjoining land or buildings but it is entirely up to the discretion of the Chairman to decide whether it is necessary. Please note that if such a visit is agreed to by the Chairman, before entering the adjoining site/property, the Chairman and Planning Officer will first establish with the owner/occupier of the property/site being entered that there are no issues of Covid-19 present. Particular access to that adjoining site is also at the discretion of that landowner.
On those occasions where a number of sites are visited in the same day, it may not be possible to strictly adhere to the timetable given above. The Committee may arrive earlier, or later than the intended time, and may proceed with the visit without further delay. The time given for the visit should therefore be taken to be approximate only.
At the current time, and in light of the ongoing situation with coronavirus, a number of protocols and measures have had to be put in place to ensure that any risks to the health and safety (in relation to Covid-19) of Members, Council Officers and the public can be minimised whilst attending the site visit. It is additionally and respectfully requested that anyone in attendance at a Planning Committee site visit takes some personal responsibility as well to look after themselves and others in attendance by observing social distancing, using hand sanitiser regularly and wearing a face covering when advised or requested.
Please ensure that if you are intending to attend the site visit that you do not attend if you or anyone in your household are displaying any one of the symptoms of Covid-19 (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) or are feeling unwell generally and/or are isolating in line with NHS advice following a positive test and/or have been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 in the last 10 days and/or have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and asked to self-isolate.
Please note that if you do attend the site visit and test positive for coronavirus through a PCR test within 2 days after the site visit, we would respectfully ask that you inform us of this by contacting us at planningcommittee@westberks.gov.uk.
All attendees are kindly requested and expected to have a face covering with them at all times during the visit. Please note that a face covering will be mandatory (unless exemptions apply) when entering inside any property and that applicants/owners/occupiers of any site/property being visited can request all attendees entering the site/property to wear a face covering (unless exemptions apply) regardless of whether the visit is inside or outside. In addition, the Chairman, in consultation with the Planning Officer, may also request face coverings to be worn (unless exemptions apply) on sites where such a measure is considered necessary taking into account factors such as the size of the site, number of attendees and the nature of the visit to include whether there is a need to enter an enclosed space during the visit. Please be respectful and considerate of any such requests that are made.
We would also respectfully request that anyone attending the site visit, regardless of their vaccination status, adhere to the same requirements as our Officers and Members attending the visit who will be asked to observe social distancing wherever possible, regularly use hand sanitiser and to wear a face covering when required/requested. In terms of the precautions to take, please note that you can choose to take further precautions such as wearing a face covering at all times during the visit, use of hand sanitiser and observing social distancing. All attendees should be mindful of an individual’s choice in this regard and we kindly ask that they be respectful and considerate of this at all times.
If you have any further queries regarding the arrangements for the site visit, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully
Lydia Mather
Case Officer
UPDATE 22nd FEBRUARY 2022
I am writing this with a heavy heart, you have all worked so hard to help us win what seemed like mission impossible. After making umpteen telephone calls to the Council to find out when the decision notice to refuse planning consent for U&I’s planning application was going to be isued and always being told the decision had yet to be made, I decided that something was not quite right and over the past 3 days have researched reasons for delay and found the following on line which I had hoped wouldn’t be the case, but I think it is. All is not lost yet, from what I have read, ultimately it will be the subject of a Call In and if it is, the history of the hill, the fact that West Berks have previously themselves defended a decision not to allow a development on the hill because of doubts about IKEA’s traffic. They will have to come up with pretty hefty reasons for doing this Now, I stress that I could very well be wrong and I sincerely hope that I am, but the circumstance would indicate that I am not.
We will have to wait and see how this develops and reply accordingly.
So sorry.
Can a planning decision be revoked? (cancelled)
Yes.
97 Power to revoke or modify planning permission [or permission in principle].
(1) If it appears to the local planning authority that it is expedient to revoke or modify:
(a) any permissions (including permission in principle) to develop land granted on an application made under this Part, or
(b) any permission in principle granted by a development order, [the authority] may by order revoke or modify the permission to such an extent as they consider expedient.
If the planning committee makes a decision contrary to the officers’ recommendation (whether for approval or refusal or changes to conditions or S106 planning obligations), a detailed minute of the committee’s reasons should be made and a copy placed on the application file. Councillors should be prepared to explain in full their planning reasons for not agreeing with the officer’s recommendation, which should be set in the context of the development plan or the NPPF. The officer should also be given an opportunity to explain the implications of the contrary decision, including an assessment of a likely appeal outcome based on policies set out in the development plan and the NPPF, and chances of a successful award of costs against the local authority, should one be made.
UPDATE 22nd JANUARY 2022
For those of you who haven't heard or know the Eastern Area Planning Committee unanimously declined U&I's Planning Application, so we have won this battle but no doubt the war will go on, I don't know if U&I will Appeal or sell the site on but all they have to do is hang on untill the next DPD (Development Plan 2026) as West Berks are going to remove the Strategic Gap status from the Hill, so it will be up for grabs for any and all developersl I know it's a long way off but West Berks put their plans up for comment and if enough people write in on the page that they can put their comments on, saying they are not happy with this recommendation it could alter their decision. But that is a long way off and the Hill will not be safe and I fear that it could still be built on via U&I on Appeal or any time after.
There is currently a Neighbourhood Plan in process at the moment which has listed Pincents Hill as a possible site for a Local Green Space. This is not a certainty as the writer has reservations about West Berks actually ratifying this, as they and the owners have to be involved in this process
However, one step at a time - we won this time
A big thank you as always to Alok for speaking via Zoom at Wednesdays evening meeting and for requesting a Call In, I suspect that that helped focus minds, although the Committee members made it an easy meeting to attend - especially with the verdict! Many thanks with gratitude to them.
UPDATE 26th DECEMBER 2021
Our MP - the RT HON ALOK SHARMA has written to MICHAEL GOVE asking for a Call In on this Planning Application.
For those of you who don't follow planning issues and apologies to those of you who do; a Call in is when the decision on a planning application is taken out of the local authorities hands. If Michael Gove decides that there are sufficient grounds to grant a Call in, he will appoint a planning inspector to be "the judge" and U&I will be able to present their case with the residents doing the same with reasons to object. A date will be announced for this to happen. After this has taken place the Inspector will then make his recommendation to the Minister (Michael Gove) and the decision will be announced. It might work or it may not but matters like its past history, strategic gap and loss of landscape will we think have more chance to succeed this way. A big thank you to all of you for all your hard work and supporting the case, it's heart breaking to think the countryside on our doorstep could disappear, however with help from our dedicated MP we at least stand a better chance. Not everyone can see how much has contributed to saving Pincents Hill and for that the Group are extremely Grateful that he has been there for us.
URGENT UPDATE 6th DECEMBER 2021
PLANNING MEETING CANCELLED FOR 8th DECEMBER
Please note that Councillor Joanne Stewart informed us earlier this evening that the meeting scheduled for 8th December to decide the fate of our beautiful hill has been postponed until after the By-election due to take place later in December for Tilehurst South and Holybrook. This is incidental to this planning application and is more a procedural issue with the Planning Committe .
It would appear that the next scheduled planning meeting for 12th January has already been cancelled which makes the next date to hold a meeting could be 25th January 2022. However, an extraordinary unscheduled meeting could be convened but we will update this webside when matters become a little clearer. In the meantime we would be grateful if you could let anyone who wanted to attend in person or tune in to the meeting know that this meeting is no longer taking place.
UPDATE 26th NOVEMBER 2021
Please see letter below from West Berkshire County Council regarding the proposed site visit to Pincents Hill on Wednesday 1st December at 09.30 a.m.
This would seem to indicate that the Eastern Area Planning Committee meeting to decide the fate of Pincents Hill will be held on 8th December at Newbury - but we shall wait for confirmation of this. There is the possibility that this will be broadcast on Zoom.
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26th November 202 |
Development and Planning Service Our Ref: 19/00113/OUTMAJ |
Dear Sir/Madam
APPLICATION NUMBER: 19/00113/OUTMAJ
PROPOSAL: A hybrid application comprising the following elements: Outline application for up to 165 dwellings on the western part of the site and a mixed use building comprising 450sqm (GIA) of floorspace in use class D1 to provide a community healthcare hub and residential above (included in the 165 dwellings); Engineering operations on the area covered by the outline application to create suitable gradients for internal site roads and development platforms for the residential development; and FUL application for change of use of the eastern part (8ha) of the site for use as public parkland, to be protected from development in perpetuity. All matters except for access to the site are to be reserved. Matters for which detailed approval are sought are: The detailed design of the vehicular access to the site from Pincents Lane and associated turning area, the location emergency vehicular access to the site and the locations of pedestrian and cycling accesses to the site.
The Committee wishes to visit the site before reaching a decision on the above application and a visit has been arranged for 01.12.2021 at 09:30:00 (hh:mm:ss).
The purpose of the visit, which you may wish to attend, is for the Committee to inspect the site. The site visit is not a forum to discuss the merits of the application. Furthermore, members of the public need to be aware that access to the site is at the discretion of the land owner or their representative, who may refuse permission for third parties to enter a site.
Members of the public do have the right to speak, for or against an application, at the relevant Planning Committee.
On those occasions where a number of sites are visited in the same day, it may not be possible to strictly adhere to the timetable given above. The Committee may arrive earlier, or later than the intended time, and may proceed with the visit without further delay. The time given for the visit should therefore be taken to be approximate only.
At the current time, and in light of the ongoing situation with coronavirus, a number of protocols and measures have had to be put in place to ensure that any risks to the health and safety (in relation to Covid-19) of Members, Council Officers and the public can be minimised whilst attending the site visit. It is additionally and respectfully requested that anyone in attendance at a Planning Committee site visit takes some personal responsibility as well to look after themselves and others in attendance by observing social distancing, using hand sanitiser regularly and wearing a face covering when advised or requested.
Please ensure that if you are intending to attend the site visit that you do not attend if you or anyone in your household are displaying any one of the symptoms of Covid-19 (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) or are feeling unwell generally and/or are isolating in line with NHS advice following a positive test and/or have been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 in the last 10 days and/or have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and asked to self-isolate.
Please note that if you do attend the site visit and test positive for coronavirus through a PCR test within 2 days after the site visit, we would respectfully ask that you inform us of this by contacting us at planningcommittee@westberks.gov.uk
All attendees are kindly requested and expected to have a face covering with them at all times during the visit. Please note that a face covering will be mandatory (unless exemptions apply) when entering inside any property and that applicants/owners/occupiers of any site/property being visited can request all attendees entering the site/property to wear a face covering (unless exemptions apply) regardless of whether the visit is inside or outside. In addition, the Chairman, in consultation with the Planning Officer, may also request face coverings to be worn (unless exemptions apply) on sites where such a measure is considered necessary taking into account factors such as the size of the site, number of attendees and the nature of the visit to include whether there is a need to enter an enclosed space during the visit. Please be respectful and considerate of any such requests that are made.
We would also respectfully request that anyone attending the site visit, regardless of their vaccination status, adhere to the same requirements as our Officers and Members attending the visit who will be asked to observe social distancing wherever possible, regularly use hand sanitiser and to wear a face covering when required/requested. In terms of the precautions to take, please note that you can choose to take further precautions such as wearing a face covering at all times during the visit, use of hand sanitiser and observing social distancing. All attendees should be mindful of an individual’s choice in this regard and we kindly ask that they be respectful and considerate of this at all times.
If you have any further queries regarding the arrangements for the site visit, please do not hesitate to contact me.
UPDATE 22nd NOVEMBER 2021
1. An extension of time has now been agreed to the 10th December. As such the applicant is not currently able to appeal against non-determination. The website will be updated with the new date.
2. Highways have not yet provided updated advice, they intend to respond this week.
3. All of the documents (except those relating to biodiversity were/are on the website – that is the Transport Assessment Addendum, Amended Framework Travel Plan, and Environmental Statement Addendum.
4. The Council does not release information relating to protected species under the 12(5)(g) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The local Wildlife Trust and the Council’s Ecologist are reviewing the biodiversity aspects of the proposal.
5. The application will be determined by the Eastern Area Planning Committee. It likely, but not definite, that the application may go to the 8th December meeting.
UPDATE 19th NOVEMBER 2021
We have just been informed that the an extesnion of time to the deadline to forward objections to West Berks has been extended to the 10th December which probably means that unless an extraordinary planning meeting is called to decide the future of Pincents Hill then no planning meeting will take place before January. We shall of course check this out and verify dates, etc.
Jo Stewart and Tony Linden have just been informed that the developers have formally aubmitted amended plans reducing the proosed development from 265 dwellings to 165 dwellings. This is to seek to address the objection from Highways on the impact on Pincents Lane.
Highways were informally consulted on the updated traffic modelling and they have indicated that the additional queue lengths and waiting times are unlikely to raise an objection from them.
A formal consultation will start next week Monday 11th October. As usual this will include letters (e-mailed where possible) to anyone who has made a contribution to date, and the display of 'amended plans'site notices around the site, for 21 days.
There is an existing extension of time to the determination date of the end of October. This will now coincide with the end of the consultation period so it's expected the earliest Committee date to decide the outcome of this amended Planning Application would be the November meeting.
The newly revised plans are on the WBC site;
http://planning.westberks.gov.uk/rpp/index.asp?caseref=19/00113/OUTMAJ
the breakdown on the housing numbers:
50 two-bedroom houses;
71 three-bedroom houses;
34 four'bedroom houses
10 five bedroom houses
It is proposed to provide a community facility for the residents of the site but there will not be a GP unit.
For those or you who would like to object to any development on Pincents Hill and have already written in objecting to the proposed 265 homes application, can the writer please ask you to make a big effort and write in again to oppose the 165 houses because otherwise it could be read that you only objected to the 265 houses but you don't have any objection to the lower number.
Some reasons to object will be listed more fully later once the writer has thoroughly read through the newly amended documents but here are some in the meantime and if you are going to use some of those below, if possible please use your own words as they carry more weight that way. Thank you. More will be added as the writer hasn't read all the documentation yet and to make an impact on West Berks we need to get as many letters in as we can.
2. The development would still be in a strategic gap and the DPD still has 5 years left to run so this application is still premature.
3. The combined effect of new build houses in Theale, Calcot and Tilehurst increases the traffic to an already extremely busy Saunsbury's Savacentre in Pincents Lane which highways has already mentioned made the local and national news at times being gridlocked and causing tailbacks without any possible development on Pincents Hill.
4. There will be another Planning Application for Pincents Manor in the New Year which will also add to the volume of traffic.
5. Many schools in the area are still oversubscribed and no doctors surgery is to exist on the development.
6. The Council's own Policy Department advised Planning that this development was against the National Planning Policy rules.
7. The noise factor for the new houses still applies i.e. windows to be permanently locked to avoid the maximum noise levels (unless U&I have come up with a plan to mitigate this). Even if they have, sitting out in gardens would be extremely noisy.
8. With climate change and the much heavier rainfalls ponds have been appearing on the hill and the run off has increased significantly which could lead to flooding at the lower levels.
9. Any development on the hill would be against West Berks green policiesl
10. Our Prime Minister last week on 7th October said "no building on green fields or Green Belt land" and to use Brownfield land. Possibly as a backlash to losing Amersham and Bucks.
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UPDATE 12th MAY 2021
For any of you who are as mystified as the writer, as to what is happening with TOWN's application - they have been given an extension to make further amendments in view of some of the points raised by opponents to their plans. This extension is due to expire on the 30th June. Whilst it is possible the application may go to committee in June but it is not scheduled to do so at this time. The date may be further extended so the expiration date is moveable.
West Berks Planning Department appreciates that this is causing uncertainty. However, if the expiry date is extended it will be updated on their website
If further amendments come in they will be saved to the website so they can be viewed by the general public who will then be given the compulsory 21 day period to make further comments on any amendments made by TOWN. All those who have commented on the application will receive a letter listing the amended documents/plans and there would be a deadline date given for comments to be received by and if a committee date is confirmed then al who commented on the application will be notified
For those of you haven't but would like to make a comment on the plans it isn't too late to do this you can either to this now or wait until West Berks website is updated with TOWN's latest amendments.
UPDATE 10th MARCH 2021
UPDATE 27th FEBRUARY 2021.
The next thing that will happen is that all the comments will be read and a précis of all the comments will be put before the committee with a recommendation from the planning department to either recommend refusal or acceptance of the planning application.
Then those people who would like to make further comments to a remote planning committee meeting you need to send a 500 word (maximum) written submission to the Council’s Planning Team details as below. (you can only do this if you have a registered objection on the portal
The covering letter or email should quote the application reference and the date of the remote meeting and, if you want to attend the remote meeting as detailed further below, provide an email address.
The written submission must be sent by no later than 12:00 p.m, on (our unconfirmed date is Monday 8th March) which is two days before the remote meeting on Wednesday 10th March (again date to be confirmed. Should this meeting have to be postponed for any reason the timing for submissions remains the same (e.g. by 12:00 on the Monday for a remote planning committee meeting to be held the following Wednesday).
by email to planningcommittee@westberks.gov.uk; or
by post, delivery, etc, to the Council’s
Planning Committee
West Berkshire District Council
Council Offices
Market Street
Newbury
Berkshire RG14 5LD
Ref: 19/00113/OUTMAJ
Registering to participate in the remote meeting
so long as you have:
• sent in a written submission as set out above; and
• provided an email address at the same time;
you will receive a web-link by email to register to participate in the remote meeting.
You must then register by no later than 16:00 on the working day before the meeting to receive a meeting invite – this will be unique to you and must not be shared with anyone.
Where more than one person from the same group of interested parties has sent in a submission and provided an email address, each will be able to register.
Joining the remote meeting
On the day of the remote meeting you will need to join the meeting ten minutes before it starts - you will be held in a virtual ante-room (please see the the Protocol for details about what Attendees need to do to join the remote meeting).
Process in the remote meeting
At the appropriate stage of the remote meeting:
• the Clerk or another officer will, in turn, read out each submission or, if there is more than one submission from any group of interested parties (“group”), a summary of those submissions;
• you (and any other members of the group who have registered to participate) will be changed from being an Attendee to being a Panellist (you may lose sight of the remote meeting for a moment whilst this takes place) but you will not be treated as being “in the meeting” until you are called on to speak;
• the Chairman will refer to your submission and ask the Committee members if they have any questions relating to it(or questions for any other member(s) of your group on their submissions);
• once all questioning is concluded you will cease to be "in the room" and be made an Attendee again.
N.B. there is no right to be asked a question – that is up to the members of the committee
The Easten Area Planning meeting for the 10 March will be added to the list of meetings you can see
Here soon.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6cepKKElwne9h0GajvDRG65M2AG0Wn_U
URGENT UPDATE
25th JANUARY 2021
We could just about to lose the fight to save
Pincents Hill!
26th January 2021
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By email: http://planapps@westberks.gov.uk
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Development and Planning Service Our Ref: 19/00113/OUTMAJ |
Dear,
Planning application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Consultation on additional information received
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|
|
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Site: |
Land East of Pincents Lane, Tilehurst |
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Proposal: |
A hybrid application comprising: Outline application for up to 265 dwellings on the western part of the site and a mixed use building comprising 450sqm (GIA) of floorspace in use class D1 to provide a community healthcare hub and residential above; Engineering operations on the area covered by the outline application to create suitable gradients for internal site roads and development platforms for the residential development; All matters except for access to the site are to be reserved. Matters for which detailed approval are sought: detailed design of the vehicular access to the site from Pincents Lane and associated turning area, the location of the emergency vehicular access to the site and the locations of pedestrian and cycling access to the site, and Full application for change of use of the eastern part (7ha) of the site for use as public parkland, to be protected from development in perpetuity. |
This is to inform you that the above application has yet to be determined, with ongoing work having been taking place since the consultation last year. Additional information has been submitted to the Council and this is a final consultation before a decision is to be made on the application. The additional information may be viewed online at the following address:
http://planning/westberks.gov.uk/rpp/index.asp?caseref=19/00113/OUTMAJ.
The main changes to the application include:
· Clarification of proposed residential uses – to include homes for older people, custom & self-build;
· Proposed Heads of Terms for a s.106 legal agreement (including how the community building could be offered as a GP surgery);
· The final transport study;
· Third party review of the transport study commissioned by the Council;
A revised Site Travel Plan;
Design and Access Statement addendum on how crime & antisocial behaviour is proposed to be addressed;
· Additional details on Public Rights of Way across the site;
· Additional details on the proposed Emergency Vehicles only access;
· Addition of Root Protection Zones to the highway access drawings;
· Minor adjustments to some of the parameter plans.
· Consequential amendments to the supporting documentation.
For your information and ease of reference the additional documents are listed in the table below:
|
Date |
Type |
Name |
Reference |
|
12/08/20 |
Further Documentation |
VISSIM Micro-Simulation Traffic Modelling Scoping Note |
Pell Frischmann A13405/VAA |
|
02/12/20 |
Further Documentation |
WSP VISSIM Model Review Report |
70064190-002 |
|
11/12/20 |
Further Documentation |
Emails dated 3rd and 11th December 2020 additional Information/Response to WSP Report and Highways Comments |
Pell Frischmann |
|
12/01/21 |
Further Documentation |
VISSIM Micro-Simulation Traffic Modelling Update Report with appendices A & B |
Pell Frischman A13405/VAA/T01/RA02 |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Proposed Site Access: Site Arrangement |
T-003 Rev G |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Proposed Site Access: Swept Path Analysis |
T-004 Rev G |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Primary Route: Swept Path Analysis |
T-005 Rev E |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Illustrative Block Plan / Masterplan |
048 Rev C |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Parameter Plan: Access & Movement |
037 Rev C |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Parameter Plan: Green Infrastructure |
038 Rev D |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Parameter Plan: Development Height |
044 Rev C |
|
27/03/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Framework Travel Plan (version 3 13/3/20) |
Pell Frischmann A13405/VAA/T01/R03 |
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27/03/20 |
Further Documentation |
Addendum Design and Access Statement: Crime & Disorder 27/3/20 |
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27/03/20 |
Further Documentation |
Public Rights of Way: Further Details |
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27/03/20 |
Further Documentation |
Emergency Access: Further Details |
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25/02/20 |
Amended Plan |
Amended Flood Risk Assessment & Drainage Strategy & Appendices |
Civic Engineers 1041-01 P03 |
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27/03/20 |
Further Documentation |
Section 106 Heads of Terms |
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27/03/20 |
Further Documentation |
Letter outlining breakdown of residential uses |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Note outlining breakdown of development proposed |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Proposed development plan |
5956.059 Rev A |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Climate change resilience strategy design note |
Greengage |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Illustrative site plan community hub & residential |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Illustrative block plan community hub & residential |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Illustrative community hub & residential view A |
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27/02/20 |
Further Documentation |
Illustrative community hub & residential view B |
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If you wish to make comments on the additional information please write to the Planning Service at the above address or email planapps@westberks.gov.uk by 16th February 2021 and quoting the above application number. Any letters received after this date may not be able to be taken into account in the decision making process. I can also confirm that any previous comments you have made will be taken into account when any decision is made on this application.
Yours sincerely
Lydia Mather
Senior Planning Officer
t
Unfortunately at this moment in time we only have the statutory 21 days (16th February) to bolster our number of objections.
Basically, the amended plans show the layout of the proposed building site and the access to it. It is intended that a single lane access with pavements will be the only vehicular access from the Sainsbury’s end of Pincents Lane with access from the metal gates in
The plans also show the topography of the site with the intended levels and the height (one, two or three storeys) of the proposed buildings, with stepped plateaus so the natural lines of the hill will be lost.
The group’s main concerns are firstly the traffic flow from Sainsbury’s roundabout especially with construction vehicles. A question has been asked of West Berks (so far unanswered) - what is the anticipated access for constructions vehicles and it can only be one of two ways. Firstly adding to the confusion of the Sainsbury’s traffic, or secondly up Langley Hill, into
Secondly because even West Berks Landscape report said that there are areas of the development even after fifteen years growth of trees that will not be hidden and will still be clearly visible, but the new plans show that the land will be plateaud and stepped (rather like rice fields and tea plantations) to form platforms to be built on. There are areas that will have 3 storey buildings which again may still not be hidden by the promised new tree line even by excavating and lowering ground levels. The new tree line will be mainly leylandii and not a woodland mix.
Thirdly, a loss of our landscape, character and sense of place which will totally change the atmosphere to not only Tilehurst and Calcot, but Holybrook and the surrounding area. It is a much valued and loved natural open space with many different habitats which makes it a unique gem in both its landscape and irreplaceable soul of the community. Especially over the past year with Covid19 and lockdowns, it has been an absolute godsend.
Fourthly, questions asked of TOWN from West Berks have not been totally answered the answers given have been somewhat modified but various organisations like the Police, Thames Water, and departments at West Berks may still have concerns with various aspects of the proposed plan
Fifthly, infrastructure concerns such as the provision of school places, GPs and suitable access to the site. No comments from the Council have been publicly forthcoming on schools - other than for them to say that it is ANTICIPATED that this matter will be covered by CIL payments to the Council by the developer (formerly known as S106 payments). Another comment when directly questioned about schooling in the area was that pupils could be bussed to schools. Also there are doubts about the powers that be actually allowing a designated medical centre.
We have set out below the heading for reply for both e-mail and post and would be grateful for your help, if you can perhaps let at least 5 others know if possible in order to reach as many people to show West Berks how much us residents value our hill we need objections to the alterations and the development to save it.
Please, we need your help to save Pincents Hill/ Thank you.
The Combined Save Pincents Hill and Save Calcot Action GroupS
Name:
Address:
Date:
Head of Development and Planning,
Council Offices,
Market Street,
Newbury RG14 5LD
E-mail: planapps@westberks.gov.uk
Dear Sir,
Case No. 19/00113/OUTMAJ – Land East of
I/We OBJECT to the planning application at
PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED
LETTERS OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO BE RECEIVED AT THE COUNCIL
BY 18th FEBRUARY 2019
(please see update page)
Planning Application validated
(please see update page)
Tuesday September 18th September 2018
New development of 285 homes for Pincents Hill
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Pincents Hill is a green oasis of calm in an ever increasing sprawl of urbanisation.
Separating the villages of Theale, Calcot and Tilehurst to the west of Reading, it is the last remaining area of unspoiled countryside that is easily accessible that supports many species of wildlife and flora.
This site is dedicated to ensuring Pincents Hill remains as nature intended, and is not developed or built on. You can support this vision by visiting our News and Updates page.
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