A plan to add 70 homes to a huge development that is being built on a former golf course has been defeated.
Emmer Green Drive is a new estate of 223 homes that is currently being built on the site of the former Reading Golf Course in Caversham.
The homes are being constructed by Vistry Thames Valley, part of one of the biggest housebuilding consortiums in the country.
An attempt was made to add 70 homes to the development in a plan submitted by Reading Golf Club, the landowners, and Fairfax Acquisitions.
These homes would have been built on former golf course land within South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC)’s jurisdiction.
But the project was rejected by that council’s planning committee last December.
Fairfax appealed against this decision to the government’s planning inspectorate, arguing that the development would meet housing needs in a sustainable location, with 28 of these homes (40 per cent) being designated affordable.
However, appointed planning inspector Benjamin Webb dismissed the appeal, stating that the project does not feature in South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan, and concluding that it would be harmful to the ecology of the site.
The plan had two aspects: the development itself, and the access, which would have been provided from Emmer Green Drive in Reading Borough.
Fairfax appealed to the planning inspectorate, accusing Reading Borough Council of failing to determine the aspect of the project within its jurisdiction.
Mr Webb ruled in favour of Reading council in the appeal.
The decision has been welcomed in Reading.
Celebrating the news on Facebook, the Keep Emmer Green campaign group posted: “Best news ever!! The appeal has been dismissed! Can’t quite believe it!
“Thank you to everyone for giving your time, financial support, encouragement, wisdom, for writing and objecting over many years.
“Huge thanks to the Caversham and District Residents Association (CADRA), Kidmore End Parish Council, South Oxfordshire councillors and officers and the crowdfunded barrister John Fitzsimons and ultimately to the inspector for actually listening to local people.
“A good day to Keep Emmer Green!”
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central, which covers Caversham, said: “I am pleased and relieved that the planning inspector has turned down the appeal.
“This is an important decision as it stops the developer building in an important area of green land next to Reading and it also stops a precedent being set.
“I do want to see more homes built in our area but on brownfield land, regenerating existing towns and villages, so green spaces are protected.”
So far, there has been no public reaction from Freddie van Mierlo, the Liberal Democrat MP for Henley & Thame, which covers Kidmore End.
You can view Mr Webb’s decision by typing references APP/Q3115/A/25/3377313 and APP/Q3115/A/25/3377314 into the planning inspectorate website.
