10 affordable homes secured in Thatcham

A derelict building in the heart of Thatcham is set to be demolished and replaced with affordable housing.

Members of West Berkshire Council’s eastern area planning committee approved Sovereign Housing’s application to demolish Taceham House and replace it with a mix of two three-bedroom five-person houses, four two-bedroom four-person houses and four one-bedroom two- person flats.

Speaking at the meeting, council planning officer Cheryl Willett said that the proposal would involve the loss of 10 homes, down from 20 as the building stood, but that the current flats were no longer fit for purpose.

Taceham House, The Haywards, has stood empty since 2009.

It was previously used by the district council as temporary accommodation.

Speaking on behalf of the application, resident and Thatcham town councillor Sheila Ellison said: “I support this. It’s much nicer than what’s there at the moment. It will be well supported in Thatcham and we ask you to support it.”

The one and two-bedroom units will each have one car parking space, while the three-bedroom houses will have two.

Despite concerns over too many parking spaces, and one councillor questioning why a crime prevention design advisor from Thames Valley Police had been consulted – suggesting that the fact that it was an affordable housing application had led to the decision – the plan was unanimously supported by the committee, subject to a developers’ contribution agreement being signed by July 4.

Following the decision Sovereign’s regional development director, Roger Keeling, said: “It’s great for Thatcham and West Berkshire that this site is being brought back into use to provide much-needed affordable homes.

“This outcome, which will provide high-quality homes that meet local housing needs, is a result of close cooperation between Sovereign, West Berkshire Council and Thatcham Town Council.

“We will continue to work closely with these partners, and the local community, as we take this new scheme forward.”

Thatcham Town Council has been campaigning to make sure the site was only sold if a provision for affordable homes was included in the deal, since the district council announced in 2011 that the site was surplus to requirement and should be sold.