Site: PW01

Great Penwood

THIS SITE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHANGE OF USE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

Accessibility and Transport factors

1. Public transport is very poor, and any family dwelling would need parking for 2 or 3 vehicles.

2. There is a distinct lack of community facilities.

3. There is only one shop in Penwood and no post office. Given the size of the land and its potential density it is difficult to see how the additional vehicle traffic could be accommodated along the back lanes and the A343.

4. The junction of the A343 and Penwood Road is already subject to a road safety improvement project due to its being a pedestrian crossing point for local schools. The additional traffic would cause even greater changes to the road layout which would be totally out of keeping with the rural environment.

Environmental factors

1. Penwood has a high water table

2. Further building on this site would put enormous pressure on the drainage systems. Run off water would be likely to cause flooding on the A343 and cause difficulty in the surrounding fields and woodland .

3. This Area is of deciduous woodland, which provides variety of habitat for fauna and flora with the adjacent forestry commission land.

4. The Forestry Commission has been improving the management of their land over the last few years (assisted by residents) and has been rewarded with the return of a variety of wildlife, for example, night jars

5. Unlike its neighbouring village of Highclere and others, Penwood has street lighting within the boundary of the estate of Penwood Heights. Any further development in the adjacent area, with street lighting, as well as the sheer density of house and security lighting etc would have a detrimental effect on the enjoyment of the night-sky in the surrounding villages and country-side.

Landscape factors

1. The area is within the North Wessex Downs AONB

2. No significant change has occurred since the last local plan review .

3. Development of this land would have serious consequences for the enjoyment of residents in this area who currently enjoy living in a semi-rural area and would have a severe impact on the numbers of people using the forestry commission land for recreational facilities.

Built Environment and Heritage Features

1. Highclere is the gateway to the North Wessex Downs and the County's first Parish, when heading South from West Berkshire along the A343. It is an historic Parish and Highclere Castle attracts visitors from around the world. It is therefore important to also maintain the original vista and retain as many open spaces and "borrowed" landscapes as possible.

Socio-economic Factors

1. Local schools are already at saturation point in neighbouring Woolton Hill and Burghclere. Local GP surgeries, in neighbouring villages, are under equal pressure.

2. Only a few people are employed locally and apart from home workers most people commute to Newbury or London. More houses mean more commuters and more cars, deterioration of the country lanes, and loss of hedges and rural vistas.

Infrastructure costs and viability factors

1 It is doubtful that the roads could take the wear and tear of a major development during construction as well as the increase in general vehicles movements over future years.

2 There would be immense cost in developing the infrastructure to support a residential change of use on this site. Drainage costs would be significant both financially and in disruption to the roads in the immediate vicinity.