AN ANGRY councillor blasts outline plans for 124 homes in Holyport after developers tried to push approval of the scheme for a second time.
Following a dismissed appeal in 2019, developers pleaded with members on the Royal Borough’s planning committee heard on Wednesday, March 17, to approve their revised plans to build 124 homes, a community centre, two football pitches, and a park on farmland on Ascot Road in Holyport, Maidenhead.
The inspectorate founded the previous plans, which proposed 150 homes and a GP surgery, would be inappropriate for the green belt and harm Holyport’s conservation area.
While the 124 homes, 62 of which would’ve been affordable homes, was welcomed by planning officers, this wasn’t enough to justify building on the green belt and harming the area’s setting – leading officers to recommend refusal.
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The layout of the homes
Speaking on behalf of developers Beaulieu Homes Southern Ltd, Nick Gilbey urged members to approve this ‘exemplar’ scheme as the development will be net-zero carbon as the homes will be fitted with air source heat pumps, solar panels, and electric charging points as well as enhancing the biodiversity on the site.
He also said residents will ‘benefit’ from the community facilities and the proposed affordable homes exceed the council’s 30 per cent requirement.
However, councillor Leo Walters (Con: Bray) vehemently opposed the plans, saying the developers were “chucking the kitchen sink into this” after he and residents repeatedly said they don’t want the farmland to be developed.
Cllr Leo Walters
He said: “This is perfect farmland and has been for years. It’s green belt. There is no need whatsoever to develop it and it will ruin the whole of Holyport, which we preserve as a conservation area.
“It annoys local people where there were 200 or 300 people objecting to it for the first time and there’s another 137 [objections] because they get worn down with this continual appeal on appeal.
“We all know the reason why. There’s so much money involved [that] they’ll do anything to get this through and they’re doing it.”
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Councillor Amy Tisi (Lib Dem: Clewer East) said it was “pleasing” to see the affordable and zero carbon homes – but added it was “the right things but in the wrong places” as they don’t outweigh the harm it would have on the greenbelt.
Independent councillor Neil Knowles (Old Windsor) added developing on this agricultural land would break the line that separates Holyport from Maidenhead.
Members followed the officer’s recommendations and unanimously refused the plans.
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