Controversial 75 Home Development Approved in Charvil

A decision has been made on a controversial plan to build 75 homes on the outskirts of Charvil, a commuter village on the A4 between Maidenhead and Reading.

The homes would sit near the new Canberra Lake Way development, opposite The Charvil Piggott Primary School, and fall under Wokingham Borough Council.

Outline plans from Hicks Developments were approved in December 2024. The site was later sold to Bellway Homes, which submitted detailed plans about a year afterwards.

Neighbours lodged 197 objections, raising concerns about the loss of a promised buffer to Canberra Lake Way, the density of the scheme and poor provision for footpath and cycle routes.

Councillor Leon Cook asked for the detailed plans to go to a Wokingham planning committee, which met on 12 August and heard several public speakers.

Alan Simpson, for Charvil Parish Council, urged a redesign to address neighbours' concerns. He said: "In five years' time, residents won't remember this debate, they will just know whether they can walk their children to school safely, whether teenagers have somewhere to be have somewhere to go and be social and active and whether they can enjoy safe walking and cycling."

Local resident Mike Cordric warned the new homes were too close to those on Canberra Lake Way and urged a delay. He said: "Bellway deliver maximum profit for their shareholders by constantly pushing the boundary of what you'll let them get away with.

"Push back against their excesses."

An agent from Imperium Planning said Bellway had negotiated adjustments with neighbours. It was noted that some residents felt a buffer promised at outline stage had been lost in the detailed application.

Cllr Wayne Smith said: "I can understand for those people at Canberra Lake Way this must be very, very, very difficult because they bought something and now it's turning out to be a nightmare."

Planning officer Kieran Neumann said Bellway had worked with officers to mitigate impacts and that it is preferable for new developments to sit close to existing ones. He recommended approval, noting the scheme would deliver 40 per cent affordable housing.

That affordable element includes 10 two-bedroom, 12 three-bedroom, six four-bedroom and two five-bedroom homes, with 21 at social rent levels, seven as 'First Homes' and two as shared ownership. The remaining 26 four-bedroom and 19 five-bedroom houses are market rate.

The detailed scheme was approved, with two councillors abstaining. You can view the application by typing reference 253071 into the council's planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter