Overview of our proposals
New homes and parkland
for Tilehurst
The land at Pincents Lane is a suitable location in Tilehurst for new homes: close to schools, a supermarket and with excellent road and rail connectivity.
Our new neighbourhood will enhance the local community and provide key benefits highlighted above.
Community Health Hub
A purpose-designed unit of 450m2 gross, to shell finish, for Class E community health facilities within material start on site.
It will be offered to the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) within 3 months of the grant of outline planning permission.
If it is not taken up by the CCG within 12 months, occupation will be offered additionally and in parallel to other health care providers for a further year, giving the CCG a total of 2 years to take it up.
Custom-Build and Self-Build
At least 15 (15%) of market units will be delivered through a custom-build or self-build scheme which will support West Berkshire’s ongoing obligation to provide such provision.
These most likely will be available as self-build plots where the plot purchasers commission their own complete design within overall set parameters and subject to a design code.
Plots will be marketed for a minimum of 18 months and first will be made available to those on West Berkshire’s custom and self-build register for a period of six months, prior to being placed on the open market.
They will be required to offer carbon neutral energy efficiency.
These self-build plots will support West Berkshire’s ongoing obligation to provide such provision.
RIBA National award-winning development by TOWN. Marmalade Lane, Cambridge
Our amended outline planning application seeks permission for the access and the principle of residential development of up to 165 homes, together with a multi-use healthcare hub and new public parkland. If granted there will be a further application and public consultation to comment on the detailed design.
Housing for older people
At least 18 homes will be built to particularly suit older people. These will be restricted in tenure in perpetuity for the 55+ age group and be built to at least Part M4(2) of the Building Regulations.
These will include both market and affordable homes, the latter managed by the selected Housing Association provider.
Climate change resilience strategy
Recognising the Council’s 2019 declaration of a Climate Emergency we will be preparing a Resilience Strategy. Amongst other elements, this will include:
A saving of at least 35% on the use of operational carbon compared to conventional Building Regulations across the majority of the development.
The custom-build and self-build plots to be built at close to Passivhaus standards as exemplar practice.
Click on the yellow button above to access our plans
Access
Access arrangements
rethought
Our Access plan
Our new neighbourhood will have vehicle access from the south-west corner of the site only. This is to prevent ‘rat running’ through to Tilehurst.
We carefully considered how to prevent impact on the existing residential areas whilst ensuring that people living in our development will have excellent connections to the A4, M4, bus and railway networks.
We have provided an access point for emergency vehicles only. This is to the north of the site. It is standard practice for developments of this type.
There will be great pedestrian and cycle connections creating a network of footpaths through the area, linking with the existing Public Rights of Way.
The Public Right of Way follows a mature hedgerow’s line from SW to NE across the area proposed for residential development and then across the proposed community parkland. Any crossing of the Public Right of Way will be sensitively designed to give pedestrians and cyclists right of way at these crossing points.
New public park
Green space at the heart
of our development
Our green connections
It was important to us when developing our plans to design a neighbourhood which complements its surroundings and enhances quality of life for residents and locals.
Currently legal public access is limited to the Public Rights of Way which cross the site.
So we’ve created a 9-hectare (22 acre) new public park to be at the heart of our development between the new housing and the existing Tilehurst community.
We will gift the park to a local organisation and it will be legally protected from future development.
In addition, a woodland buffer will extend around the park, linking up surrounding isolated areas of ancient woodland.
The park will give residents open space to enjoy, get to know their neighbours and also enhance local wildlife.