Parish councillors question 'greybelt' claims over Fifield homes plan

A planning application has been submitted to turn a greenbelt piece of land in Fifield Road into four homes.

Since 2024, the proposal’s site – directly opposite the Fifield Inn – has been used for private storage and includes two paddocks for the keeping and exercising of a horse.

Jenny Hopgood, the applicant, is looking to demolish the paddocks and storage spaces and build four new homes instead.

The homes will be two-, three- and four-bedroom properties with parking and cycle storage space.

But the freehold owners of Garden Cottage, which is near to the development site, objected to the plans.

They said one of the proposed homes would encroach on their property and negatively impact the access to the cottage.

The site is part of the Royal Borough’s greenbelt.

But the planning statement, submitted by White Planning and Enforcement, said that because the site was previously developed on, it should now be considered ‘greybelt’ – and therefore appropriate for development.

It added the site is directly opposite bus stops in Fifield Road and Oakley Green Road, offering future residents an ‘excellent and viable alternative’ to car travel.

However, in a meeting yesterday (Monday), Bray Parish Council’s planning committee argued that the bus services in Fifield are not reliable.

Councillors also disagreed with the ‘greybelt’ definition and said that the development is part of the borough’s greenbelt and should be protected.

Councillor Nick Pellew (Dedworth) said: “There is a certain argument that doing something to tidy [the site] up would be a good thing.

“Although tidied up [the development has] a substantial impact on the greenbelt. The applicant is arguing that this is greybelt.

“Greybelt must be sustainable, with good transport links and accessible infrastructure.

“Fifield has no doctor, no shops and a pretty poor bus service, so I would argue that this [application] does not meet that definition of greybelt. This is too big a development.”

Councillors also raised concerns about the high risk of flooding of the site, with the nearby Fifield Inn often flooding as well.

A flood risk assessment was not submitted as part of the planning application.

There are exceptions for building on the greenbelt where ‘there is a demonstrable unmet need’ for the development.

The planning statement said this proposal would help the borough reach its housing target and its need for more family homes.

Parish councillors recognised the development would add to the number of homes built in Windsor and Maidenhead.

But they ultimately recommended the application for refusal because it would be an ‘inappropriate development’ of the greenbelt.

The Royal Borough is yet to make a final decision on the planning application.