PEOPLE in Shiplake say dozens of new homes on the edge of the village are badly needed to help retain young people.
Last week, the Standard revealed that a 15-acre site at Thames Farm, off Reading Road, has been offered to South Oxfordshire District Council as a possible site for more than 150 homes, including affordable housing.
Mira Bateman, landlady of the Plowden Arms, welcomed the idea, saying: “The younger generation have no choice but to move away because they can’t afford the homes here.
“The priority should be the human factor, rather than the environmental factor. This could be the only way to keep youth in the village.
“What happens when the area keeps getting older? Eventually that generation will die out.
“There are enough facilities to keep everyone going and I think the area would flourish with the development.”
Pam Hudgell, 63, of Baskerville Lane, said: “People have to live somewhere and why should we oppose it here? I’m sure there would be problems with transport and schools but, apart from that, I welcome it.
“There is a real need for cheaper houses in South Oxfordshire. You don’t want all the youngsters having to move away because they can’t afford to stay.”
Mrs Hudgell, a member of Shiplake WI, added: “I think new houses bring the potential for new members of clubs and associations in the village that are struggling.”
Former Shiplake resident Jim Loughray said: “Unlike other sites being promoted for the Local Plan, this site holds neither restrictive designations nor in itself would add to Henley’s traffic congestion.
“A short walk from Shiplake station, it satisfies the need for transport to Reading and London. This land, with no amenity and little aesthetic value, should be exploited to help alleviate the acute local housing shortage.”
Jackie Charmless, of Greys Hill, Henley, said: “[Affordable housing] has to be built somewhere and the longer there are objections to housing being placed anywhere at all, the longer young people — our children — and those who desperately need decent family housing without having to win the Lottery go without.
“It is essential that any community has young working people as part of it, not just to keep it vibrant but to actually keep it alive and functioning.”
But Tony Freebody, proprietor of Shiplake Motors, said: “I would prefer the land to stay as it is. It’s a nice green space in the village. I don’t think Shiplake could cope with so many houses — it’s only a little village.”
The proposal on behalf of landowner Claire Engbers was made by Simon Myles, a senior planner with real estate agents Savills, in a letter to Adrian Duffield, the council’s head of planning and building control. He said a development would “help address housing need in Henley”.
The council is searching for viable sites as it aims to hit a target of 2,700 new homes in the district, outside Didcot and central Oxfordshire, by 2026.
Mr Duffield said Thames Farm was one of about 200 sites that had been offered to the council and was “a long way” from being considered.
He said: “We have to work to provide housing to meet the need. Any sites identified will be investigated under several different factors, such as sustainability and impact on the community.”
Angie Paterson, cabinet Member for housing, said: “Shiplake is not currently identified as an area for housing allocation.”
Published on 08 February 2010
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