Plan for new homes near Caversham retirement estate shot down

Development company Knole Homes was hoping to build nine new homes with access from Lyefield Court, a private retirement community off Kidmore End Road in Emmer Green.

The project would have involved downsizing an existing home called Brindles through demolition work, making a total of 10 homes on the site.

But the plan has been shot down at a meeting of Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee on Wednesday, September 4.

The site layout for the plan for nine homes off Lyefield Court and Kidmore End Road in Emmer Green. Credit: Arktec

Neighbours attended the meeting to voice their objections in person. Tina Barnes, a retiree who lives in The Conifers, said: "We and our neighbours strongly object to this proposed development because of the implications of the increased use of an entirely unsuitable access road on our personal safety and because of the loss of a significant green space.

"We believe this plan has been designed in terms of its layout and density to maximise the number of homes with little if any consideration for the impact for those who will be living there and those of us who will be neighbours."

She went on to say five households in The Conifers would lose their privacy and suffer from noise disturbance during the construction.

The view from the home of Tina Barnes at The Conifers in Emmer Green, where nine new homes could be built. She said the new homes will lead to a loss of screening, and accused developers of felling trees. Credit: James Aldridge, LDRS

Meanwhile, Malcolm Geater raised concern about the narrowness of the access road for Lyefield Court. He said: "The increased use of this narrow, unlit, private access road constitutes a danger to the residents, many of whom have hearing, sight, and mobility problems."

The widest point at Lyefield Court, Emmer Green. Neighbours argue that it is too narrow for construction traffic and other vehicles to pass. There is also no designated footpath. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Knole Homes was also criticised for cutting down trees at the site, with council planning officer Thomas Bradfield noting that 13 individual trees and a group of trees were cut down before the plan was submitted.

Harvey Smith from Caversham and District Resident's Association said: "There are issues around traffic and safety, privacy, the scale of the development, tree cover and the pre-emptive felling of trees, and above all the loss of amenity to so many older residents contending with infirmity and disabilities."

Justifying the project in application documents, a planning agent from Arktec argued the new homes would help to contribute towards the housing needs of the local people in the area, providing a social benefit.

However, members of the committee sided with objecting neighbours and Mr Bradfield, who recommended the project be refused.

Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) said: “It’s clearly an overdevelopment of the land in question. The access to the mini housing estate of nine homes in inadequate, it’s already problematic, and this obviously will exacerbate the issue enormously.

“It’s obvious we should refuse this application.”

The project was unanimously refused by councillors on Wednesday, September 4. You can view documents by typing reference PL/24/0403 into the council's planning portal.

Knole Homes does have existing permissions to build two homes on the site, with approvals granted in 2008 and 2023.