A total of 66 people have registered objections to the proposed development of 59 homes on the Fullers Field Land, located west of Primrose Avenue in Wantage. Submitted by the Stanley Thomas Pinnel Estate, the application has also garnered two comments in support.
This marks the developer’s second attempt to construct homes on this land, following a previous proposal for the same number of houses that was refused in 2023. According to the developer, 35 percent of these homes will be designated as ‘affordable housing’.
Local resident Jo Reeder from Blackthorn Road expressed concerns: “The development will introduce a substantial number of additional vehicle movements onto Primrose Avenue, aggravating existing congestion issues, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. Several new housing developments have been recently approved and built in the area. The local infrastructure is already under strain, and there is no demonstrated need for further large-scale housing in this location.”
Householder Oliver Huxley, residing on Hawkey Road, added: “With many residents now working from home, ongoing construction presents a real and daily disruption. Based on previous experiences, there is little expectation that builders will be mindful of noise levels, and this will severely affect concentration, productivity, and overall mental well-being of those living and working nearby.
“In summary, this development offers minimal gain compared to the considerable negative impact on current residents. I strongly urge the council to reconsider the necessity and suitability of this proposal, and to preserve this remaining space in recognition of the community’s needs.”
In contrast, a supporter, T. P. Kodiyat of Westfield Way, commented: “I fully support this application. Britain faces a shortage of houses, which contributes to crises like homelessness. It’s disheartening that in a developed country, people struggle to find homes. Therefore, we need to build more houses and improve local facilities and infrastructure alongside this development.”
The planning statement describes the Fullers Field proposals as a step towards delivering a new high-quality residential neighborhood, integrated with the existing town of Wantage and the emerging Kingsgrove development to the north and east. This project envisions homes that can take advantage of the site’s landscape setting and connectivity to upcoming facilities within Kingsgrove, which will include education, shops, and employment opportunities.
New pedestrian and cycle routes are proposed to link with the existing and emerging networks in the Kingsgrove development. Planned routes also aim to connect to the existing byway, facilitating travel to the village of Charlton and the town of Wantage.
Direct vehicle access is proposed for the south-east corner of the site from Kingsgrove. The proposals are seen as a natural expansion of the Kingsgrove development, helping to connect Kingsgrove with Charlton and Wantage.
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