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West Berkshire Council planners agree Kintbury Audley Inglewood development for ‘wealthiest one per cent’ of elderly




PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a controversial, luxury care development within a Victorian walled garden.

The owners of Audley Inglewood retirement village in Kintbury will now create an extra 22 units and a new pavilion, despite around 70 letters of objection.

Members of West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee were warned on Wednesday, July 19, of increased construction traffic having a knock-on effect as far as Hungerford.

Dennis Benneyworth (Con, Hungerford and Kintbury) noted: “The turning into Park Street (in Hungerford) has been featured in the Newbury Weekly News; The Plume on the corner has been struck several times.”

Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Hungerford), spoke on behalf of residents who objected and therefore abstained from voting.

He told the meeting the 22 homes, which would sell for around £750,000 each, did not come with an affordable housing allocation.

Mr Vickers said: “I’m unhappy that these applicants, who provide homes for the most wealthy one per cent of the population, are able to qualify for exemption from providing some for affordable housing.

”This council has a desperate need to provide such homes and I believe this sets a very bad precedent.

“They operate in a very refined and exclusive market and this council shouldn’t, in effect, be subsidising them.”

Chairman of the Inglewood Owners’ Association, Michael Guest, said a survey had shown a huge majority of members were against the development.

He said there were fears that the cost of providing care for the new units’ occupants could “dilute” the services on offer to current residents.

Denise Gaines (Lib Dem, Hungerford and Kintbury) also expressed concern that there was no mechanism for demanding affordable housing provision.

However, members were reminded that the council’s own highways and planning officers had recommended approval.

Howard Woollaston (Con, Lambourn) said: “There is a clear need for housing for the elderly in the area.

“This is a very sympathetic scheme within a walled garden.

“This is a useful use of a heritage assett.”

Members noted that the once meticulously tended vegetable garden inside the walls has been allowed to become overgrown in recent years.

Clive Hooker (Con, Downlands) said: “I can’t see any reason not to approve this, given our current planning policies.”

Members voted by a majority to grant permission for the development.

It was agreed to set conditions limiting the hours in which construction can take place and to enforce restrictions on the route haulage vehicles can take.



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