Residents of Spencers Wood claim plans for hundreds of new homes would turn it into a ‘concrete metropolis’.
Plans were revealed last week for 420 homes, a care home, a primary school and GP surgery in the village, with developer Richborough wanting to build the homes and an 80-bed care home on land off Basingstoke Road.
The village, between Reading and Wokingham, would also have a new local centre, community hub, retail units and a supermarket. A primary school would be built and double up as a recovery centre facility, alongside play areas, fields and a sports pitch.
The developer also said it would look into improving existing highways, as well as ‘viewing corridors’ to enjoy views over the River Loddon.
Many residents have objected to the scheme, based on a wide range of concerns about traffic impacts, a lack of existing infrastructure and environmental impacts.
Nicholas Hadwen wrote to Wokingham Borough Council. He said: “Continued development will lead to our beautiful area becoming a concrete metropolis which only seeks to provide access to the M4.
“This was a rural location and no longer is.”
He claimed recent housebuilding had not been met with improved roads, which ‘diminishes the quality of life of local residents’.
Steph Taylor added: “During morning rush hour there is already significant congestion from the junction onto the A33 through the Three Mile Cross roundabout, and up the road towards the Spencers Wood village hall.
“This development will only further exacerbate the existing issue for local residents.”
Denise Grant said local GP services “.. are already at bursting point”.
Homes provided would be mixed in tenure, at a varying range of prices.
Because plans are only at the outline stage, they do not indicate the design of the homes or the number of bedrooms. There are also no details on the number of homes that will be affordable, but it is likely it will be 40% according to Wokingham Borough Council rules.
The nearest railway station is Mortimer in West Berkshire, around 5km south-west of the site, while major transport hub Reading station is 7.5km away. Cycle and pedestrian routes will be created for new residents to access the existing village of Spencer’s Wood. This already has a post office, convenience stores, a library, pubs, schools, nurseries and a pharmacy.
Plans have been validated by Wokingham Borough Council, and due to the scale of the development a decision is likely to be made by the authority’s planning committee.
