Plans for new homes in a West Berkshire town should be turned down. Bartlett Property Development has requested the demolition of an existing house and the construction of four further three-bedroom houses on land at 61 Russell Road, Newbury.

West Berkshire Council received 18 letters regarding the scheme. While six support it, the other 12 oppose it – for reasons including overdevelopment, increased traffic and an impact on parking.

Now council planning officers have recommended the project be turned down. Their concerns include overdevelopment, “substandard back gardens” and a lack of parking spaces.

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A report states: “The proposed housing and associated parking would appear cramped within the development site and as an overdevelopment of the plot. As the development would take influence from the existing street scene, the number of proposed housing together with the sub-standard parking provision and level of garden amenity would all lead to a visually and physically overdeveloped and cramped site and as such would not be appropriate.”

He added that eight parking spaces for four houses was a “shortfall”. The report states: “This shortfall would exacerbate the likelihood of increased on-street parking near the application site to the detriment of local traffic safety.”

West Berkshire Council will consider the project at its West Area Planning Committee on Wednesday, June 8.

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