Crowthorne and Sandhurst

Bracknell MP Andrew Mackay has hit out against a proliferation of flats being built in Crowthorne by developers.

Mr Mackay said he was "Fighting a series of battles in the war to protect Crowthorne from unwanted planning applications to build blocks of flats."

Now new rules mean English Nature have to be consulted if an application is within two kilometres of a Special Protection Area.

Mr Mackay said the biggest issue in Crowthorne was a plan by Banner Homes to build on the Cambridge Road site, which was rejected by a planning inspector.

But the MP warned there was a need to be constantly vigilant, as developers were continually launching appeals and resubmitting planning applications.

Milgate Homes was appealing against a decision by Wokingham District Council to turn down an application for 14 two bedroom flats in two blocks in The Avenue, opposite Our Lady's Preparatory School, Crowthorne.

And a site in Dukes Ride had been turned down by Bracknell Forest Borough Council after Wimpey and Princegate Estates had applied to replace bungalows with flats. It is going to a planning appeal, but mean-while other applications had been made for the site.

Mr Mackay said developers often made multiple applications in a bid to get the developments through.

"I have made a string of representations to inspectors to reject appeals and back local residents in their fight. If you drive around the area, you see there are too many and developers cannot sell these flats."

He said there was no need for the flats, which overdeveloped sites and did not meet the housing needs of the area. They were often just bought by investors as second homes or by people who bought them to rent out.

ic Berkshire ~ Crowthorne