Council rejects Sibly Hall - but appeal will go ahead
Published 27 Nov 2011 12:30
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PEOPLE breathed a sigh of relief when a major application to build nearly 100 new homes in Earley was thrown out by the council - but an appeal has already been launched.
Wokingham Borough Council planning committee refused plans submitted by Reading University to bulldoze Sibly Hall and replace it with 99 houses on Wednesday last week.
But representatives from the university announced in August that an appeal had already been launched because the application, which was submitted in December, failed to go before the committee within the statutory eight months.
Cllr Brian Wedge, who represents the Redhatch ward for Earley Town Council, told the planning committee: "This area has one of the lowest percentages of recreational ground in the area, and the introduction of 200 or more residents will have a dramatic impact.
"Access to the site will be affected by the amount of traffic generated from the proposal."
Resident Keith Starkey said: "There will be a huge loss if this whole site is developed.
"The area is tending towards gridlock and the development will exacerbate this."
Representing the university, Jonathan Hill said: "Alternatives were considered including converting the hall into apartments but this was not viable.
"We had no feedback after submitting this application, so we've had no choice but to appeal."
But the planning committee raised concerns about the quality of living for people nearby, access to the homes and the loss of green open space and unanimously voted against the proposals.
The university also submitted plans to relocate a telephone mast which currently stands on the roof of Sibly Hall into woodland in Redhatch Copse. The application was rejected in June after councillors decided it would result in "loss of ancient woodland", but university bosses are also appealing this decision and a public inquiry will begin next March.
Speaking after the meeting, Tony Crowther-Green, who lives in Redhatch Drive, said: "The results of the traffic survey said there would be 44 more cars in the morning rush hour and 22 more cars in the evening, which is minimal.
"This development will have a huge strain on the infrastructure and the findings of the survey are naive."
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