Residents vote in favour of referendum

Henley residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of the neighbourhood plan last night.

A total of 1,479 votes were cast, with 1,207 in favour and 266 against. Six votes were spoiled, and voter turnout was 15.3 per cent.

The vote was open to Henley residents over whether they approved the new neighbourhood plan for Henley and Harpsden. 

The document earmarks eight sites in Henley for 377 new homes, including 110 at Highlands Farm, the Crest Nicholson development off Greys Road, and 72 west of Fair Mile.

Other allocations include 50 dwellings on the Gillotts School playing fields and 23 new homes on the old Henley Youth Centre in Deanfield Avenue.

Also included are the former Chilterns End care home (27) and the Chiltern Centre (3), both off Greys Road, the Stuart Turner premises and neighbouring Henley Enterprise Park, off Greys Road (42 plus at least 3,000 sq ft of employment and retail space) and the town council’s land next to Tesco, off Reading Road (50).

The plan’s objectives include keeping Henley and Harpsden as separate as possible, prioritising the redevelopment of brownfield sites and delivering an appropriate range and mix of housing.