Hiya folks

[Down_in_Albion]

Hiya folks,
Just found this site after searching the nets for info and thought i'd join up and introduce myself.
I've been living in central Reading for a few years of off Elgar Road in Katesgrove and just moved into a new home in Calcot backing onto Sulham Valley.
Thought i knew Reading front to back but this site is full of useful gubbins so have been perusing the threads for a while.
The reason for joining is the potential new development of off Pincents Lane in Calcot by Blue Living developers. I hope people can guide me in the direction of any useful info or petitions to sign to join the cause to stop this being built as i'd like to get involved.
Anyway, hello all.
Mark

[Chris]

Welcome Down_in_Albion.

I believe the Pincents Lane development has been halted (for the timebeing?). There are now other plans in the local area, but nothing of the size that Blue Living were threatening.

We've just moved from Caversham, and the development plans in the area forced us to look elsewhere in West Berks (and very happy we are too now!)

[Les]

Hello Down_in_Albion and a very warm welcome to Reading Forum. We look forward to you future brain cell exercising posts!

[Down_in_Albion]

Chris - Other plans? Can you enlighten me? (IKEA?)
We are sure that in the future the housing development will get built in one form or another, Reading needs the housing, but hopefully it'll be built on a lot smaller scale. Companys don't put that much graft and money into proposed plans just to walk away but we are just far enough away from the site that it shouldn't affect us *cross fingers*

[piwacket]

Hello Down_in_Albion and welcome from me

I regret I know no more about the Pincents Lane development other than reports in the local paper where it said as Chris did above.

Certainly, I know the area, but not well as I live on the other side of town, so it would only be from a 'passing-through' perspective.
A look on the Get Reading, past issues site or even contact with them, may tell you what you want to know.

[Chris]

Unfortunately I can't find details, but I believe there are planned proposals for the land just SE of Starling Drive.

From a positive point of view: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2072 ... tion_group

[Down_in_Albion]

Don't think anythings being built SE of Starling Drive.

FYI - If you go here:
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=19645
Look at the right side of the page, and click the PDF document 'Proposals Map February 2010' (be warned its a large file).
This document is a interactive map containing the most up-to-date planning applications of everything going on in West Berkshire at the moment. Reading Council also have one of these online. They are complicated documents but easy to view and its interesting to see what the councils got in the pipeline.
SE of Starling Drive, Olivers Copse, is a local wildlife site/historic park/Biodiversity area. Whatever that means.
I spent hours having a nose through this cos i was buying in that general area and tbh i still don't understand fully what its about as all the info overlaps but its interesting.

[antant68]

Hi,

New to this site, and by no means an expert, but here is my understanding of the Pincents Lane Development.

Planning refused on 26th Feb - Blue Living has 6 months to appeal (26th Aug) - if they do not appeal by this date they have to re-apply.

In the mean time, local residents applied for "Village Green" status - which would stop any building work forever. Inquiry heard 16th-25th June, result will take a few weeks. A very long shot - but worth a try, even if it adds to the delay.

Reallistically Blue Living will appeal, they have invested a lot in time and money.

Personally I get a bit fed up with the "something will eventually get built on it on a smaller scale" comments - as this plays into the developers hands. There are many reasons why planning "should" always get refused, the two main ones are the effect it will have on the adjoining Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - which is Pincents lane and everything to the left of it (looking up the hill) and that it has been designated by the council as an area seperating settlements - to quote directly;

POLICY ENV.4 The Council will not permit development which would detract from the open, or rural character of areas of land identified on the Proposals Maps essential to the maintenance of a clear physical and visual separation between distinct settlements. The locations to which this policy will be applied are:
(c) land between Theale and Tilehurst/Calcot;

If you actually look at the reasons the planning was refused I think Blue Living has no chance of devloping this site, whatever they do will have a major impact on the hill, which can be seen from miles away.

I know it is a bit different, but people wouldn't say that because Reading needs houses that Prospect Park will eventually get built on. I think certain areas that are so obviously rural should not be built on, and if there was no "ifs" and "maybes" the council will firmly protect our interests.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Ant

[Les]

Hello Ant. and a very warm welcome to this Forum. Than you for your input which I am sure that a lot of people will find helpful. Doo take time to have a good look round and we look forward to your further input.

[LocalGirl]

Ho there, welcome to the forum. I don't know much about the site you refer to but had something to add to the general topic.....

Don't think anythings being built SE of Starling Drive.

FYI - If you go here:
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=19645
Look at the right side of the page, and click the PDF document 'Proposals Map February 2010' (be warned its a large file).
This document is a interactive map containing the most up-to-date planning applications of everything going on in West Berkshire at the moment. Reading Council also have one of these online. They are complicated documents but easy to view and its interesting to see what the councils got in the pipeline.
SE of Starling Drive, Olivers Copse, is a local wildlife site/historic park/Biodiversity area. Whatever that means.
I spent hours having a nose through this cos i was buying in that general area and tbh i still don't understand fully what its about as all the info overlaps but its interesting.

The proposals map isn't an up-to-date plan of all planning applications. It just shows the larger sites that the council wish to encourage a particular use at. So please don't think that if its not on there, its not going to happen!