OBJECTORS insist 135 homes plan in West Windsor is “not needed” after raising concerns about its impact on air quality.

After 15 years in the making, developer Wates had its outline plans to build 135 homes north of the A308, adjacent to The Hatch, take one step towards fruition after a majority of councillors sitting on the Windsor and Ascot development management gave the nod.

The council was only considering and agreeing in principle to the site’s access at this stage where a final application will be submitted at a later date.

The site is allocated within the borough local plan (AL21), meaning it has been taken out of the greenbelt.

The plans also include 40 per cent affordable homes and five per cent custom and self-build. It also includes public open space and allotments.

Slough Observer:

Objectors insisted at Wednesday’s meeting that the scheme is “not needed,” believing the Royal Borough’s five-year housing supply has already been met.

Bray Parish Council commissioned an independent report on air quality on the A308 where it found pollution levels are at 38 micrograms per cubic metre, which is dangerously close to the UK’s limit of 40.

Parish councillor Nick Pellew said: “This development will lead to serious gridlock for longer periods with the consequential worsening of the impact on air quality.”

Independent Cllr Jon Davey said the A308 is “already rammed” and “not being looked after. He added: “Air quality is brought up but is dismissed as 69 car trips a day.

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“I’m sorry, but that’s comical. If you’ve got busy families in these homes, they’re going to be doing a lot more than that.”

However, planning officers insist the site is part of the five-year housing supply and is needed to meet that target.

Development management service manager Sian Saadeh said: “A failure to do so would weaken the council’s position to defend speculative housing applications elsewhere if we were shown to not be delivering our housing land supply.”

She also said the impact of air quality and traffic has been considered when the borough local plan was being drawn up and reviewed by an independent planning inspectorate, who found the local plan “sound”.

Officers found “no concern” in air pollution and traffic for this site, hence why it’s allocated in the local plan, councillors heard.

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Five councillors voted to approve the outline plans, but future reserved matters regarding scale, layout, etc. will come back to the committee for determination.

Cllrs Ewan Larcombe and Sayonara Luxton abstained, and Cllr Amy Tisi voted against.

Reacting to the approval, Jordan van Laun from Wates Developments said: “We are delighted to have secured consent locally for our plans on land west of Windsor to unlock 135 vitally needed family homes.

“This decision comes following in-depth community engagement that really helped to shape the proposals. This local decision will ensure the prompt delivery of new homes with an exciting array of sustainable credentials in line with the council’s sustainability statement in addition to various other community benefits.

“We would like to thank our working group for helping us to shape the proposals and look forward to bringing forward these new homes in the near future.”

Wates’ second plans for 320 homes, a special educational needs school, a community centre, and open space on land south of the A308 will go to the committee at a later date.