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Home Welcome to www.savepincentshill.co.uk PLEASE GO TO THE NEWS AND UPDATES PAGE WHICH CONTAINS MORE INFORMATION
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
If you have any further queries regarding the arrangements for the site visit, please do not hesitate to contact me. Lydia Mather
UPDATE 22nd FEBRUARY 2022
We will have to wait and see how this develops and reply accordingly. So sorry.
Yes.
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
UPDATE 26th DECEMBER 2021
URGENT UPDATE 6th DECEMBER 2021
UPDATE 26th NOVEMBER 2021
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.
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. UPDATE 4th OCTOBER 2021
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. 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. 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. ------------------------------------- West Berkshire updated its website yesterday to alter the expiry date for this application to Saturday October 30th 2021. This date as previously explained is moveable but it is a date for TOWN to work to but anything can happen before this date. However, at the moment no further documentation has been listed in the documents received list, but no doubt some will appear in due course. When this happens, any one who has written in will receive a letter from West Berks telling us that the website has been further amended and asking for comments giving people time to write in. This website will be updated when the situation is a little clearer.
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 UPDATE 10th MARCH 2021 Obviously the Eastern Area Planning Committee did not meet on Monday 8th March and is rumoured to now take place on a date to be announced in April. However, once we have been informed of the date to decide this planning application we will update this site accordingly. In the meantime we assume that further letters of opposition can still be submitted.
UPDATE 27th FEBRUARY 2021. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
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 Ref: 19/00113/OUTMAJ
URGENT UPDATE 25th JANUARY 2021 We could just about to lose the fight to save Pincents Hill! Please see below letter from West Berkshire Council which the writer believes to be self explanatory but explanatory notes are listed under. Even if you have already submitted your letters opposing the development please do e-mail or write in again as we have been told that West Berks anticipate and expect this planning application to go through which would be heart breaking. If each person who knows about the development could let just 5 other people know (if possible), and ask if they would kindly write in that could boost the numbers considerably. All letters to be received by Council by 16th February 2021
26th January 2021
Dear, Planning application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
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; · 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:
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
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. 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: Head of Development and Planning, Dear Sir, 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) Friday January 15th 2019
Planning Application validated (please see update page)
Tuesday September 18th September 2018
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