Flats replace care home at 325 home Theale project

Development company Ridgepoint Homes is making progress on its project to build 325 homes at the Lakeside site, which is bound by The Green and Bath Road.

The latest news is that a majority affordable element of the development has been given approval by West Berkshire Council's planning department.

The homes will be built within three buildings, with the largest being a four storey u-shaped flats block with attached flats over garages.

All 50 of the apartments contained in these blocks will have two-bedrooms.

The other new buildings are a standalone four storey flats block and a terrace of four houses, containing two two-bed and two-three-bed homes.

Street scenes for the three new buildings being added to the Lakeside development in Theale. Credit: Ridgepoint Homes

These buildings will be located on the part of the Lakeside site closest to the meeting point The Green and Bath Road, and were originally meant to provide 70 extra care units.

The project was not without opposition, as a neighbour raised fears of the urbanising effect the development could have.

In an objection, neighbour Joelle Way said: “I live locally in Theale, absolutely love the area and I am proud of the quiet village we know it as now.

“Please just stop planning on building high risers and cramping in lots of new housing – Theale cannot cope with an influx of people (schools, public services and especially traffic!).

“Let’s not see Theale turn into Calcot.”

However, a planning officer judged the development to be acceptable.

There was little mention of the loss of the 70 bed care home facility in the planning officer's assessment, but the provision of affordable housing was welcomed.

The location of the Lakeside development between The Green and Bath Road in Theale. Credit: Ridgepoint Homes

An outline plan for the 325 home Lakeside project was refused by the council but allowed on appeal to the government's planning inspectorate.

One of the reasons for refusal was the lack of affordable housing provision. The outline consent had 12.5 per cent of the development being designated affordable.

However, the approval of this latest development brings the total affordable housing amount to 30 per cent of the Lakeside project.

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The housing will be made affordable through affordable rent and First Homes schemes, but exact amounts are unclear. The officer's report suggests 22 units will be affordable rent, and 14 will be First Homes units. It is unclear what type of tenure the remaining 28 flats will be designated as.

The project was approved on Tuesday, February 27.

You can view the approved application by typing reference 22/01871/FULEXT into the council's planning portal.

New homes at the Lakeside are being built on a site previously used for gravel extraction.

Additional reporting by Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporting Service