Rare heathland protected as huge housing development denied permission

10/06/2009 22:36:06 Crowthorne inquiry finds in favour of nature
June 2009. A major development proposal near some of the world's rarest heathland habitat has been refused permission by the Government.

Legal and General's (L&G) plan to build 975 houses plus facilities on the former Transport Research Laboratory site on Old Wokingham Road, near Crowthorne was unanimously rejected by Bracknell Forest Borough Council last year, but went to public inquiry following an appeal from the corporation.

Potential for damage to rare and fragile heathlands
During November's hearing the RSPB, working with Bracknell Forest Council, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and Natural England, outlined the damaging impact the development would have on the nearby Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA), where protected heathland species including Dartford warbler, nightjar and woodlark are found.

The Government found that L&G had underestimated the impact the development would have on the SPA. The Planning Inspector upheld the group's key objection, namely that the green space included in the proposed development would fail to provide new residents with an attractive enough alternative to the SPA, and would result in more people using the heath.

Increased number of people would have been damaging
The inquiry also found that, regardless of the suitability of the green space proposed, measures to manage the increased number of people accessing the SPA were not part of a clearly deliverable package, and fell short of what was needed to protect this special area of heathland.

Sam Dawes, of RSPB South East, said: "It's been an anxious wait but we are delighted with the decision. The Thames Basin Heaths and the wildlife found there are precious assets to the community and make the area the special place that it is.

"This is a great result for Crowthorne - legally and ethically there was no other choice. This battle has been won, but cases like this continue to spring up around the Thames Basin Heaths. Crowthorne shows that effective campaigning can work, people aren't powerless to stop damaging developments in their area, but the fight is far from over."