DEVELOPMENT in Bracknell Forest is a “free-for-all”, according to a resident concerned about dozens of homes being built in the borough.
This comes after planning bosses said yes to a proposal to build 33 homes on countryside land in Warfield - despite this going against the council’s development policies.
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Maggie Stock, who lives north of Warfield Street near where the dozens of homes are set to go up, said: “This will change Warfield Street forever.
“But it is not just about Warfield.
“Once this goes it will almost inevitably free other builders planning to have an absolute field day.
“It is effectively a free-for-all.”
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Plans to build the 33 homes north of Herschel Grange were given the green light at a meeting on Monday, December 16 despite widespread opposition from neighbours.
Objections from 26 residents were sent to Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) and Ms Stock told the News it was to the community’s “amazement” that the proposal -which also included designs for ten affordable homes - was approved.
She told the News the neighbourhood had concerns about the “already very dangerous” traffic getting worse, new 2.5-storey homes “clearly being out of character” with the rest of the area and the eventual “urbanisation” of the village.
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The main concern for residents, however, was the development being earmarked for countryside land outside of a settlement boundary.
A BFC report claimed “the development would conflict with countryside policies in the development plan”, and “would result in some harm to the intrinsic value and beauty of the countryside”.
But it also suggested “the harm is minor” and “the proposal would not adversely impact upon the character and appearance of the immediate area.”
In 2018, planning inspectors from Bristol approved an application to build 50 homes on land north of Newhurst Gardens in Warfield after developers had appealed BFC’s decision to refuse in 2017.
Bracknell Forest is now able to demonstrate it has a six-year land supply - a minimum of five years is required by central planning bosses - meaning there are sufficient sites allocated within the borough available to meet housing requirements for the coming years.
In light of this, Ms Stock accused Bracknell planning chiefs of approving the application because they were “fearful” of the costs involved if developers appealed a refusal decision.
But BFC’s report concluded: “The proposal offers benefits in the form of an above policy level of affordable housing, and the provision of housing generally.
“The development would not result in material harm to the amenities of the residents of neighbouring properties, highway safety, biodiversity or drainage.”
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