A plan that would see workshops replaced with two large homes on the outskirts of Caversham have been rejected.
A developer was hoping to replace workshops at The Piggery in Gravel Hill, Caversham with two new five-bedroom homes.
The plan has since been rejected after attracting several objections from neighbours.
A neighbour living in Gravel Hill expressed concerns over intensified traffic along the narrow residential road, which is already used by people trying to get to Bugs Bottom.
Opponents to the plan were supported by Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading East, who also called for it to be rejected.
Although the homes would effectively have been in Caversham, the land actually falls within Kidmore End Parish, meaning neighbouring South Oxfordshire District Council determined the application.
Mr Rodda expressed concerns that approving such development so close to the border of Reading would set a negative precedent of encouraging more and more housebuilding and ‘urban sprawl’ in Caversham.
READ MORE: MP voices opposition to homes plan on border of Reading that 'could set precedent'
The developer was hoping to get the homes approved through ‘prior approval’ laws, which allow developers to convert or replace offices and workshops with housing as long as prior approval is granted by the relevant planning authority.
The plan was refused by South Oxfordshire Council’s planning department, with head of planning Adrian Duffield who ruled that the homes would ‘add of an excessive amount of built form onto the site’ leading to an ‘nduly prominent and incongruous form of development.’
Therefore, prior approval was not given and the plan was refused.
Welcoming the news, Mr Rodda said: “The ‘Prior Approval Required and Refused’ decision by South Oxfordshire District Council appears to be good news for those who opposed this development.
“I still have serious concerns about the suitability of this site for development given its proximity to other residential areas and the impact it would have on the roads and local amenities.
“I have made further enquiries with the Council as to the outcome of the planning process and will update my constituents as soon as I have more information.”
However, the homes could still be built if an appeal is submitted to the government’s planning inspectorate.
While a South Oxfordshire Council spokesperson said that they were aware that an appeal has been lodged, no appeal for the site can be found on the planning inspectorate website or is attached to the refused application.
You can view the refused application by typing reference into the South Oxfordshire council planning portal.
The plan for the two homes followed an earlier application to replace buildings on the site with six flats under reference P21/S0897/ND1.
That proposal was withdrawn following neighbour objections.
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