Council turns down plans for 70 homes

CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed a council’s decision to turn down a scheme to add 70 homes on a former golf course between Emmer Green and Kidmore End.

Land acquisition company Fairfax wanted to add 70 homes to its 223-home development which is currently under construction on the former Reading Golf Course site.

It was knocked back by South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday last week, after councillors voted five to four to turn down the scheme, which would have extended the development within the boundary of Kidmore End.

The plans had received objections from more than 100 residents, as well as Kidmore End Parish Council, Caversham and District Residents’ Association, and Reading Central MP Matt Rodda.

In its refusal, the council said the scheme was not in accordance with planning policies, would be detrimental to the character of the area in respect to landscaping, and sat in an unsustainable location regarding the distance from the nearest bus stop.

It also said that the absence of a completed Section 106 agreement meant the proposal failed to secure affordable housing, improvements necessary for biodiversity net gain, or the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of the development.

Caroline Aldridge, who chairs Kidmore End Parish Council, spoke in objection to the plans at the meeting.

She said: “The site is not deliverable, the landscape harm is significant and permanent, the ecological harm meets the national planning policy framework test for refusal.”

Following the council’s decision, Mr Rodda said: “I am pleased that the planning committee turned down plans to build on the part of the former Reading Golf Course, which is in Oxfordshire.

“I had written to the council asking them to refuse this application.

“The development would have added to pressure on local roads in Emmer Green and on the GPs’ surgery.

“I am calling for Reading’s plentiful supply of brownfield to be used to build new homes.”