The ‘unimaginative’ layout of 73 homes that make up part of the wider Arborfield Garrison development has been approved. 

Referred to as ‘Parcel V2N’, the plot, located within the northwestern corner of the site, is the latest phase of the approved 2,000 home development to be given the go ahead by Wokingham Borough Council. 

However, Barkham Parish Council had described the layout, in the most part, as “regimented” and “unimaginative”. 

In October 2014, property developer Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd, applied to determine whether the redevelopment of the former garrison site would be acceptable. 

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The developer said the plan offers an opportunity to provide “a significant quantity of housing” on a brownfield site in order to “help meet local housing need[s]”. 

As well as the new homes, the development map outlines the construction of a ‘district centre’ with a supermarket, commercial offices, apartments, a neighbourhood centre, and a three-form entry primary school in this area.   

Consent was subsequently granted in April 2015, subject to several conditions, which included the submission and approval of detailed plans to cover each of the proposed phases.   

The specifics of certain features, such as design, parking and landscaping of the ‘Parcel V2N’ plot, have now been approved. 

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The 73 units will comprise of 20 per cent affordable homes, which will be situated within an apartment block for one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two and three-bedroom houses.  

The remaining properties, which will be sold on the open market, will consist of a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom family homes. 

Buildings will predominantly be made up of two-storeys, although some will extend to a height of two-and-a-half and three-storeys – including the apartment block. 

The block will be allocated one parking space per apartment, situated within secure courtyards, whilst the family houses will each be provided with spaces for at least two cars per plot. 

Spaces for visitors and unallocated parking will be made available in defined bays located around the site. 

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All homes will be provided with cycle storage situated in sheds within rear gardens, whilst all apartments will be allocated space in covered, secure enclosures within the parking courtyards. Storage is provided at one bike per three habitable rooms. 

Trees will be planted on the main spine roads within the development, either as semi-matures or advanced nursery stock, whilst the parking courts will be planted with advanced nursery stock trees. 

Five elements of the council’s overall plan for the area have already been completed, most notably the construction of Bohunt School, which opened in 2016. 

Other aspects of the development that have been completed include 223 homes in Nine Mile Ride, 133 new homes off Biggs Lane, and the construction of Arborfield Film Studios off Langley Common Road – all of which have built by Crest Nicholson.