Concerns Rise Over 2,160 Homes Development Plan

Plans to build 2,160 homes at Murrell Green, between Hook and Hartley Wintney in Hart District, Hampshire, have prompted concern in Berkshire about extra traffic.

The scheme, promoted by Lightwood, asks for three accesses from the A30 London Road and one from the B3016 Odiham Road.

While the M4 handles much west-east traffic, there is also heavy north-south movement between Reading and villages heading to Basingstoke and other Hampshire towns. The nearest substantial Berkshire settlements are Arborfield and Finchampstead.

Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council have run consultations. Wokingham has raised worries about the impact on its roads, saying: "The council requests a forecast of how many vehicle trips will utilise Wokingham's road network."

The transport assessment predicts 5.3 per cent of commuters will go through Wokingham, 4.9 per cent through Bracknell Forest and 1.4 per cent to Reading. It also says 4.8 per cent of journeys from Wokingham, 4.0 per cent from Bracknell Forest and 2.1 per cent from Reading could travel to Murrell Green.

On the wider effect, the assessment adds: "On this basis, it appears that circa 15.7 per cent of future residents could commute using Wokingham's road network."

Wokingham has asked for further junction capacity checks, noting: "The council has requested that junction capacity assessments are completed at any junctions in Wokingham where the development results in 30 two-way additional trips in a Peak Hour."

It flagged the A33/B3349 Basingstoke Road Roundabout as a particular concern and said: "Whilst this junction sits within Hampshire, the Wokingham Infrastructure Delivery Plan identifies a need for capacity improvements on the A33 Reading to Basingstoke corridor and identifies a particular need for focused capacity improvements near Wellington Country Park."

After its appraisal, Wokingham said: "Following the appraisal of the application, it is considered that the council would presently object to the proposal on Highways grounds, due to the implication it would have on the highway network in and around Wokingham Borough." The council has asked Lightwood for more information if it is to reconsider that objection.

The application is listed on Bracknell Forest Council's planning portal, although no files have been uploaded yet. You can view the project on Hart District Council's planning portal using reference 26/01201/OUT.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter