A development proposal in Mortimer has moved closer to resolution thanks to work by housebuilder T A Fisher.
The developer, which was based in the village for 28 years before moving to Theale in 2015, teamed up with the Englefield Estate to promote the site in the draft Mortimer Neighbourhood Plan for a housing allocation of 110 new homes together with land for a new primary school and doctors’ surgery.
Land behind St John’s Church, owned by the Englefield Estate, had been identified by West Berkshire Council in its draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document for new homes, a school and surgery.
The Neighbourhood Plan moved to a local referendum on June 22 where 88.8 per cent of voters approved it, allowing West Berkshire Council (WBC) to incorporate it into its Development Plan.
T A Fisher is now working on a planning application it hopes to submit later this summer. The scheme includes a variety of styles and sizes of new homes and there will be over three hectares of open space. Forty per cent of the homes will be affordable.
T A Fisher’s managing director John Fisher said: “This scheme is designed to integrate with the village and is sensitive to Mortimer’s character and the feelings of local people, while addressing Mortimer’s requirement for new homes including affordable housing.
“We will now be working closely with the parish council to take on board any issues around our scheme as well as addressing any concerns or questions from the local community when the planning application goes in.
“After 28 years in Mortimer we feel we are well placed to provide the village with the right kind of development.
We held a public consultation in January to explain our proposals and we will obviously be engaging further in the course of the planning process,” added John Fisher.
If the application is successful it is hoped work can start during 2018.