Councillors back toilet block at homes site

PLANS to move a play area and build a toilet block on a new housing development have been recommended for approval.

Crest Nicholson built 191 homes in its “southern field” development of Highlands Park in Greys Road after being granted outline planning permission for the scheme in 2016.

In December, it submitted plans for a minor re-plan of the first phase of development ahead of submitting plans to build 131 more homes in January, the majority in its “northern field”.

The re-plan considered by Henley Town Council on Tuesday last week includes car parking provision, a toilet and storage building associated with the use of the sports pitch and a play area.

The southern field of the development features two sports pitches, which the developer has proposed could be used by AFC Henley for its Saturday fixtures.

Since planning permission was granted for the scheme, Crest Nicholson wants to move the play area from an area which was originally planned to include employment provision and community facilities to a site on the other side of the sports pitches, originally consented as a village green.

This, along with the car park and toilet block, will now sit in front of residential properties in Flowercrofts.

This is the fourth time Henley Town Council has considered the re-plan application after plans were amended in April, July and August.

The committee previously recommended the plans for approval in January on the condition that fencing was provided around the pitch but recommended it for refusal in April because of its impact on residents.

The plan was refused again in August after the committee said its previous concerns had not been addressed around drainage and impact on the highways network with traffic coming in and out of the site.

Eighteen residents lodged objections to the plans, citing issues with inadequate parking, the increase in traffic, privacy concerns and increased noise caused by relocation of the play park.

Town, district and county councillor Stefan Gawrysiak said: “When residents first bought their homes, on the original master plan, they were going to be looking over a football pitch or a green area and to the left of their properties, there was going to be the toilet block, car park and playground.

“It has now been transplanted from the far corner because it’s easier to sell the houses at the top if they are looking over a green field.

“Therefore, I will vote against this motion because I think Crest Nicholson should honour the existing master plan of this particular area and design their new homes around that basis.”

Councillor Gavin Jackson responded that the developer had made a “great deal of effort” to address concerns they had raised. He told the meeting: “The impact is really limited to the western end of the site.

“Crest Nicholson keep making an effort to address the concerns we raise and if the amendments are now within South Oxfordshire District Council’s sight line of guidance and there is increased screening of landscaping, they are making significant effort to address the concerns.”

Councillor Laurence Plant said he sympathised with residents’ concerns but the visual impact of the toilet block would be minimal.

He said: “I think the emphasis has been put on the toilet block for those residents. This is a single store shed with a toilet that’s only going to be in use for four or five hours a week in total. The space between it is still large, you’re still going to look out over a wonderful green area.”

Henley Town Council recommended approval to the plans with a request for fencing around the sports pitches to protect users and residents from the low-lying land. The district council will make a final decision.