A HUGELY controversial plan to build 53 homes in Binfield is set to be given the green light by the council.

Councillors could rubber stamp the proposals despite more than 250 letters of objection from residents.

Land at Tilehurst Lane, Binfield, has been subject to various planning applications in the last six years but applicants JPP Options Ltd look set to get their way after a Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) officer recommended the plans be approved.

This comes after BFC originally refused planning permission for the building of 28 homes at the site in 2015 – but this was later overturned at a third appeal and developers gained consent to construct the homes.

However, building work has not yet started on these plans and since the developer’s successful appeal, the council has demonstrated a five year supply of housing land, meaning the necessity to build homes in the borough has been cancelled out.

This has been pointed out by a number of locals unhappy at the proposals, which would see homes built outside of an area designated for house-building.

One Tilehurst Lane resident said: “This development falls outside of the settlement boundary of Binfield village. Its charm, wildlife and countryside feel will be negatively affected by air, noise and light pollution, traffic and unappealing, cramped suburban ugliness.

The real impact of serious over-development in the area has not been properly experienced yet. More houses will add traffic and will impose undue pressure on amenities and local services.

“Tilehurst Lane is a peaceful lane. It is too narrow to accommodate more traffic. The proposed turning circle out of the estate on to the lane is too tight. Two cars will not be able to pass each other safely let alone lorries and construction vehicles – there is no pavement either for pedestrians! This is dangerous.

“The developer has pursued this plot relentlessly having had appeals rejected on very sensible grounds in recent years that it is an unsuitable site for development. This is profiteering.”

Dozens of residents have signed an identical letter which outlines residents’ worries over overdevelopment, a lack of protection for the countryside and increased traffic flow, with is signed off with an appeal to BFC to refuse the application “for reasons that carry significant weight”.

Applicants had originally applied to build 60 homes at the Binfield site but reduced the number after taking highway safety and landscape concerns into account.

However, developers are still waiting to hear the council’s verdict on separate plans to build nine homes on land to the north of Tilehurst Lane.

The houses proposed in the application for 53 homes would be a mix of 31 three-bedroom homes, four four-bedroom homes, ten two-bedroom homes and eight one-bedroom homes.

All of the one-bedroom homes and five of the two-bedroom homes would be made affordable, representing 24.5 per cent of the total build – lower than BFC’s requirement for 25 per cent affordable housing.

A report outlining the plans read: “It is recognised that, while the Council has a five year supply of housing, as a separate matter to this there is a significant demand for the provision of additional affordable housing. There is therefore some benefit in providing additional housing within this proposal in comparison to the numbers in the current approved development. This factor can therefore be afforded some degree of weight.”

Councillors are set to give the go-ahead to proposals at a BFC planning committee meeting on Monday, June 3.