Beloved hedge saved after Wash Common Scout hut demolition plans rejected by West Berkshire Council

Wash Common residents will be rejoicing after the rejection of a contentious planning application secured the future of a beloved local hedge.

Prudential Properties submitted an application to demolish the old Wash Common Scout Hut in Battery End and replace it with a two storey, four bedroom domestic dwelling in December 2022.

Many Wash Commoners objected to the planning application because they believed it could facilitate the destruction of a sizable hedge between the Scout hut and Wash Common park.

The plans stated that “the existing hedge boundaries will be retained as far as is practicable”, but objectors believed that the new property’s close proximity to the park boundary would have made the hedge vulnerable.

Residents wanted to save the hedge because of its ecological importance within the local environment and the historical significance of the park and the Civil War.

West Berkshire Council planning officers refused the planning application on July 28.

The notice of refusal stated: “Insufficient information has been submitted with the application to assess the ecological impact of the proposed development works to the site.

“There may be protected species or their habitats which may be impacted upon by the proposed development.”

Councillor David Marsh (Green, Newbury Wash Common) led a local campaign to save the hedge from destruction.

Writing on Facebook, he said: “I'm delighted to say that West Berkshire Council has refused the application by Prudential Properties to build a house on the site of the old Scout hut, which would threaten the hedge that forms part of the boundary of the recreation field.

“As the application is the same as the one approved four years ago [which then lapsed], and the same planning officer was in charge, it looks as if the campaign by local residents, and the many letters opposing this application, won the argument.

“Well done everyone.”

He also stated that the campaign wasn’t opposed to re-developing the old Scout hut site. He has previously described the hut as an “eyesore”.

Mr Marsh and several Wash Commoners just want the hedge to remain in situ if the disused building is ever demolished and the land is used for the construction of a new residential property.