Controversial 200-home plan in Cookham to be decided this week

Controversial plans for nearly 200 homes in Cookham have been recommended for approval – and are set to be decided this Thursday (November 21).

The application, by Bellway Homes, is for 199 homes split across two applications – 160 homes, and five self-build plots (23/02019) and 34 homes, plus one self-build plot (23/02022).

The brunt of this is set for 7.63 hectares spanning three fields located north of Lower Mount Farm, west of Cannondown Road and south of Whyteladyes Lane.

There are more than a thousand documents logged in RBWM’s planning portal relating to these plans.

In total, the number of objection letters reaches over 500 across both proposals. RBWM says these have come from about 200 people.

Cookham figures, including Cookham Parish Council (CPC), have voiced their opposition to the plans since the beginning.

CPC originally fought the plan to take this area off the greenbelt and assign it for housing in the Borough Local Plan, under housing allocation AL37.

The parish council later criticised the developer’s masterplan for the site. Traffic impacts have been a major ongoing concern.

The plans

Housing is set to be a mix of semi-detached homes, short terraces and small apartment blocks.

Of the 165 new dwellings proposed, 40 per cent would be affordable – amounting to 66 homes.

Within these 45 per cent would be social rent, 35 per cent affordable rent and 20 per cent shared ownership.

Mainly based in the central and southeastern area, these would be made up of 16 one-bed maisonettes, 10 two-bed maisonettes, 17 two-bed houses, 18 three-bed houses, four four-bed houses and a single two-bed coach house.

Market housing would take the form of 27 two-bed houses, 31 three-beds (including five self-builds), 35 four-bed houses and six five-bed homes.

Plans also include a playground and landscaping to make two nature trails.

Vehicle/pedestrian access is set to be installed on Cannondown Road, with further pedestrian/cycle access to Whyteladyes Lane via Arthur Close.

Recommendations for approval

In conflict with local traffic concerns, the RBWM planning team felt the impact on the local roads ‘would not be severe’.

Planning officers said they were happy with the layout, height of buildings and their appearance, and were satisfied the living conditions of future occupants would be acceptable.

As such, officers are recommending granting permission for both plans, subject to certain conditions. In particular:

• a signal crossing (type to be decided later) over Whyteladyes Lane
• a speed reduction of Cannondown Road
• local footpath safety improvements.

RBWM is also expecting more than £398,000 to help off-set the carbon footprint of the development.

Plans have been amended through the planning process, which started more than a year ago in August 2023.

Of the most significant, two bus shelters are planned for both Cannondown Road and Whyteladyes Lane, as well as a number of footpath improvements, costing £148,000.

In addition, all the planned dwellings were changed to be two stories in height, the housing mix was revised and there were improvements to their appearance and amenity space.

Tree lined streets and additional visitor parking spaces were also added.