Plans to demolish house and build two criticised

PLANS to demolish a house in Tokers Green and replace it with new homes have been criticised by residents and a parish council.

Michael Lincoln, of New Barns, wants to build two new family homes at the junction of Tokers Green Lane and Rokeby Drive.

They would be semi-detached with three bedrooms and each having a single-car garage and two additional car spaces.

Mr Lincoln has submitted a separate application for the property which proposes one new-build instead of two, which would have four bedrooms, a landing office, a double garage and two additional car spaces.

Both proposals include replacing the existing vehicle access in Tokers Green Lane with two new ones. One of these would be further north up Tokers Green Lane and the other in Rokeby Drive.

Architect Cornelius Kavanagh, on behalf of the applicant, said the existing home, which was built in the Fifties, was constructed with “cheap materials” and is difficult to adapt to modern insulation standards. He said the proposal for two homes meets a need identified in the neighbourhood plan for smaller and more affordable housing.

A previous attempt to develop the site was refused in May last year and again turned down on appeal in June after Kidmore End Parish Council and 15 residents objected and have criticised the new proposal.

They are worried the new vehicle accesses would create a road safety issue due to lack of visibility at the junction, which residents say already has poor visibility and parking issues.

The parish council said while it does not disagree with the development of the plot in principle, these issues, as well as the omission of a bat survey, meant it was not policy-compliant.

It said the subdivision of the plot for two new homes would “significantly increase the intensity of built form on the site” and conflict with the semi-rural grain in Rokeby Drive.

“The council notes that the existing site is largely open, without mature hedgerow or trees,” the council said.

“While this means there would not be any direct vegetation loss, the creation of two new accesses, additional hard surfacing and picket-style fencing would further urbanise the plot and remove the potential to re-establish a soft, green boundary typical of the village.

“Tokers Green Lane... is a narrow, single lane road. Two closely-spaced crossovers at a junction create conflict points, increase turning movements and reduce pedestrian safety.”

Kayleigh Henry, who lives in Mapledurham, said: “I have grave concerns about the location of the proposed driveways, so close to a junction that already has poor visibility.

“The road bends slightly making the visibility poor. This route is used by a lot of cyclists and pulling out of these proposed driveways will be risky.”

Ruth Ashby, who lives in Tokers Green Lane, said: “One house would be preferred to two as parking is a big issue on the corner of Rokeby Drive and Tokers Green Lane. The driveway on Tokers Green Lane is a possible view obstruction depending on where a vehicle is parked.”

Amanda Kayll, who lives in Tokers Green Lane, said: “There is a great deal of problems with parking, access and visibility on this busy corner.

“This route is used by the primary school traffic to Kidmore End Primary, the secondary school in Sonning Common and the special needs accommodation in Dyson Wood Lane.

“I believe that two drives on to Rokeby and Tokers Green Lane would not be viable and one house using the same drive would be better.”

Joanna Feast, of Rosebery Road, said: “There are other large homes that have recently been developed in Tokers Green but these have been on appropriately-sized plots, with much safer road access, and without such overbearance on close neighbours.”

South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, aims to make a decision on both applications by November 14.