700 Homes in Thatcham Options

[Phil_D11102]

Why not use Greenham as a location for the homes.

I recently said this to the Chairman of the WBC. He said no one would want to live on an industrial estate.

If you do it right, than it won't look like your living on an industrial estate, as now the area inside the yellow is just a big pile of rubble..

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[spartacus]

There's more merit to this suggestion than any of the recent continual crayoning on plans around Thatcham Station, or proposals for the 'green buffer' between Newbury and Thatcham or even the area to the north of Thatcham. I don't know why it's being so readily dismissed. If the houses are priced right people would be prepared to live anywhere in order to stay around Newbury (heck they even live on top of the old rubbish pits and landfill sites of Pinchington Lane (Equine Way?) with all the gas vents and vapours releasing from the ground and potential for ground disturbance on their property, so why not on a site that was built for military use?

And the residents would have an easy route through to Basingstoke where the shopping and parking is so much easier than Newbury. Depending on what businesses are attracted to the site local residents would have an easy walking commute to work too.

Perhaps the conspiracy theorists will say that the grounds cannot be developed because the USAF lost one of the warheads for a cruise missile in that area and they don't want the ground to be disturbed?

[motormad]

Would make a lot of sense.
but then traffic may head to thatcham and get stuck at the crossing!

[On the edge]

Yes, it's an eminently sensible proposal and the reuse of this area and facilities is also properly sustainable. One of the biggest issues we face is the innate conservatism of Bristish planners and builders which inevitably stifles innovative design and thinking. For instance, although it's a perfectly sound and needed facility, did we really need a campus style technical college on a green field site off the main public transport network? It's an attitude of mind, as the Chairman demonstrated, I'm not sure how you alter that, without a radical change.

[Andy Capp]

Yes, it's an eminently sensible proposal and the reuse of this area and facilities is also properly sustainable. One of the biggest issues we face is the innate conservatism of Bristish planners and builders which inevitably stifles innovative design and thinking. For instance, although it's a perfectly sound and needed facility, did we really need a campus style technical college on a green field site off the main public transport network? It's an attitude of mind, as the Chairman demonstrated, I'm not sure how you alter that, without a radical change.

...at the top of one of the steepest hills in 'Newbury'.

[Mr Brown]

Just perhaps the latest episode in Cumbria and around will finally nudge the Great British Public that we simply can't go on and on covering vacant green space with hundreds of houses or bungalow offices. Re populating Town centres is clearly the way to go.

[blackdog]

Just perhaps the latest episode in Cumbria and around will finally nudge the Great British Public that we simply can't go on and on covering vacant green space with hundreds of houses or bungalow offices. Re populating Town centres is clearly the way to go.

And I can't see how the flooding in Cumbria shows that town centres are a good place for housing - just look at Newbury town centre, built on a flood plain. Nor have I seen much bungalow building in recent years - 5, 6 ,7 storey housing is becoming the norm in Newbury.

Newbury town centre has had hundreds of new homes in recent years and many more are on the way - but there simply isn't enough space to meet the demand for housing. Nor are brownfield sites the answer - all that does is replace offices and factories with housing; the community needs workplaces too!

Sadly greenfield sites are needed to meet the need.

[Mr Brown]

And I can't see how the flooding in Cumbria shows that town centres are a good place for housing - just look at Newbury town centre, built on a flood plain. Nor have I seen much bungalow building in recent years - 5, 6 ,7 storey housing is becoming the norm in Newbury.

Newbury town centre has had hundreds of new homes in recent years and many more are on the way - but there simply isn't enough space to meet the demand for housing. Nor are brownfield sites the answer - all that does is replace offices and factories with housing; the community needs workplaces too!

Sadly greenfield sites are needed to meet the need.

I beg to disagree, Newbury doesn't have very many 5 story plus blocks, even in the town centre! Like many other places, there are rather more 3 story homes, which in reality are just standard two story ones where the developer has exploited the loft void. Not just Newbury, but look at our town centres; we can and should go much higher. Properly designed mixed use multi story blocks could provide much of the answer. Newbury is still very low level. As for office space, many people now work from home. We actually need to manage our land far more effectively; it's not being made anymore, not even in Korea.

[blackdog]

I beg to disagree, Newbury doesn't have very many 5 story plus blocks, even in the town centre!

Take a look at the plans for the Racecourse, Sterling Cable site and the 'urban village'. They are coming.

[blackdog]

I beg to disagree, Newbury doesn't have very many 5 story plus blocks, even in the town centre!

Take a look at the plans for the Racecourse, Sterling Cable site and the 'urban village'. They are coming.

[spartacus]

As blackdog said (twice) the 5 storey blocks of flats are coming. On the Racecourse development they are currently working on the piling and foundation for 11 new blocks of flats which will be 7 storeys high in that space between the main stands and Nuffield gym. There will also be a single ten storey block of flats going in that space at the eastern end next the Nuffield.

When work starts eventually on the site of the old driving range (east of Nuffield and by the new bridge) there will be another two ten storey blocks, two six storeys and a whole load of three, four and five storey buildings. These will be in that part of the development where the poorer people will live (it’s all relative – the ‘expensive’ bit is eye watering figures)

[spartacus]

Just wait till they start work on introducing the rising bollards in that Racecourse development and the complaints that will follow...... (which will presumably be shortly after the bridge is formally opened so customers can still get to the Leisure Centre.) How long before the first car gets impaled on the bollards? (At least it will be a private road this time)

We haven't had a decent photo of a car sacrifice thingy for ages.


I hear they're contemplating using these beasts as it'll look better on twitter/instagram

[Berkshirelad]

it's not being made anymore, not even in Korea.

Actually, it is.

The Netherlands is a good example, as is the island in the South China Sea that China is 'growing' to extend its territorial claims.

Dungeness Point in Kent 'grows' by several feet per year

[On the edge]

Actually, it is.

The Netherlands is a good example, as is the island in the South China Sea that China is 'growing' to extend its territorial claims.

Dungeness Point in Kent 'grows' by several feet per year

Not sure that the former inhabitants of various areas along our west coast would agree that natural coastal changes are a solution. Nonetheless at least you've demonstrated that Boris Island is the right answer to London's airport needs.

[Mr Brown]

Good tip to have a look at the plans for the area. They seem quite exciting and if everything they promise dies get delivered, it's going to make the area quite nice. Decent integrated apartment blocks, great transport links, walking distance to a shopping / recreation area - with open country on the door step.

[Mr Brown]

Not sure that the former inhabitants of various areas along our west coast would agree that natural coastal changes are a solution. Nonetheless at least you've demonstrated that Boris Island is the right answer to London's airport needs.

One thing is clear, what ever the question, the answer isn't Heathrow!

[The Hatter]

I agree it's weird that the old airbase isn't going to be used for more homes specially as Thatcham is likely to get a lot more right by the canal.