Chapel Street development ‘overpowering’
A PLANNING application for 11 new homes in Thatcham went to a planning committee last night (Wednesday).
The plans for nine one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom houses on Chapel Street raised a number of objections.
It was due to be discussed as this paper went to print last night’s eastern area planning committee at West Berkshire Council.
The developer seeks to demolish one of the three existing buildings at 12 Chapel Street to 16 Chapel Street to create wider access to the site.
The rectangular site of 0.15 hectars backs on to the rear gardens of residents on The Henrys and neighbours Bupa care home, a hair salon and the Methodist church.
The pair of semi-detached houses are proposed to the middle of the site with rear gardens and a block of two-storey flats is proposed to the north of the site with shared amenity space to the north.
In between the site is parking.
A total of 11 representations were made, all of which were objections.
Objectors have said the site is too small for the proposed development and access gives insufficient sight lines for passing pedestrians.
One neighbouring resident said the block of flats would overlook her property, calling it “large and overpowering” with another calling it “offensive”.
Thatcham Town Council objected to the proposed development on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site, privacy and overlooking issues, loss of character and obstruction of the footpath to access the site.
The application, originally for the demolition of three existing dwellings and construction of 17 one- and two-bedroom apartments including parking and stores, was refused by West Berkshire Council in October 2019.
An appeal against this refusal was dismissed later in February 2021.