Background
Our client sought planning permission for up to 44 new homes (including 13 affordable homes) on a brownfield site opposite Hungerford Railway Station, on the M4 corridor in West Berkshire. The site was derelict, cleared and unoccupied, and had been subject to various failed planning applications previously.
Challenge
The site had a chequered planning history, so it was important to explain our scheme and build support from the bottom up via political and community meetings and public consultation.
Solution
- We held several pre-application meetings with officers, ward councillors, the Chairman of the Town Council’s Environment and Planning Committee, the Mayor and the Cabinet Member for Planning on West Berkshire Council, all of whom were supportive of regenerating the unattractive and redundant site but highlighted parking, height, sustainability and density as areas of concern.
- We held an online consultation which ran for a month, informing residents by posting a notification letter to 456 neighbouring addresses.
- Approximately 19 residents submitted written feedback by the end of the consultation, with key concerns repeatedly raised around parking, height, and density.
- To build support for the proposals we made a presentation and answered questions at the Town Council’s Environment and Planning Committee. Community consultation and feedback from the Town Council and neighbours allowed the project team to understand the views of residents and amend the scheme accordingly improving the layout and landscaping.
- SP Broadway compiled a Statement of Community Involvement outlining the process of engagement which was submitted in conjunction with the planning application.
Result
With little negative feedback from the consultation, and all key stakeholders aware of the scheme and briefed, the scheme was consented via delegated decision.
