AN APPLICATION to build 380 homes and a primary school in Binfield has been submitted to Bracknell Forest Council.

The land at Amen Corner North, in London Road in Binfield, could see 380 homes and a primary school built on the site.

There would be a mixture of flats and houses of different sizes, with about 25% of them ‘affordable housing’ – equating to 95 homes if 380 were built.

Amen Corner North is one of four key sites earmarked by the council as part of its SALP (Site Allo-cations Local Plan), which outlines where 11,139 homes will be built across the borough by 2026.

Readers commenting on the News’s Facebook page raised concerns about the potential impact of the additional population on services, such as schools and doctors’ surgeries.

Cllr Ian Leake, who represents the Binfield with Warfield ward on Bracknell Forest Council, said: “Everybody accepts the borough needs housing. We’re trying to rebuild our town centre and we need to attract economic growth, and to do that we need to attract people.

“There will be an impact on traffic. London Road is a very congested route and any development irrespective of size along that road is going to need very careful consideration regarding traffic issues.

“There’s obviously going to be a need for a school. A primary school is already in the mix and certainly the need for a secondary school generally within the borough is probable.

“The provision of medical services is more difficult; that’s a matter for the NHS.” He added the application will go before the planning committee but said: “It is an established fact there will be a development at Amen Corner.” The application promises a ‘strategic gap’ would be maintained between Binfield and Wokingham, including a buffer between the development and ancient woodland.

The outline planning application has been submitted by Barton Willmore, a consultancy firm, on behalf of Willson Developments and follows consultations with Wokingham and Bracknell councils, and the public, via exhibitions.

If this is approved by the council, a detailed planning application will be submitted.

To view the plans, visit the council’s website www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk and search on the planning section for application reference 14/00315/OUT In addition to Amen Corner North, there are three major sites earmarked for development in the SALP – former TRL land in Crowthorne, which already has planning consent; at the Blue Mountain golf course in Binfield; and land by Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne.