 Housing scheme given the go-ahead
Our planning committee recently approved detailed plans for 157 homes on land at Hogwood Farm, to the west of Park Lane on the Arborfield major development.
This will be accessed via Nine Mile Ride Extension and include public open space, a landscaped play area with a BMX cycling facility and skate track, and a sports hub and allotments to be funded by the developer Cala Homes.
The sports facilities will go on the southern half of the site and will include a sports pavilion, football pitch, artificial pitch, four tennis courts and allotments. There will also be a community orchard and "trim trail" featuring obstacles for children to explore.
Hundreds of new trees will be planted across the development and it will also include the final southern section of a bridleway for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders which will cross the entire Hogwood Farm area.
All homes with gardens will have water butts and composting space as part of a range of measures to reduce their environmental impact.
Still in the pipeline are detailed plans for 73 homes on land off Biggs Lane, which already have outline consent as part of a broader application for housing in the area. We're expecting a decision on these very soon.
 Nature park closer to getting green light
We're working with Crest Nicholson to finalise the design of a new nature park near West Court at Hogwood Farm, immediately north-east of the existing Finchwood Park off Sheerlands Road (pictured).
This new park will have paths connecting to its neighbour, creating a circular walking route around a larger, continuous green space serving the south of the borough's new community at Arborfield.
There will be a small car park but visitors will be encouraged to walk or cycle if they can to reduce their impact on the environment. Once it's built, we'll take over managing it alongside Finchwood Park, which was built by Cala Homes.
The developers were required to provide new green space under legal agreements secured when we gave planning permission for housing.
For more about nature parks across our borough, including photographs and directions, visit the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership website - and for other green spaces including our country parks, see our countryside site.
 More time to comment on walking and cycling routes
We've extended the consultation on our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan until Sunday, 4 September, so there's still time to share your thoughts on our suggestions to improve the borough's active travel links.
It's been running since 11 July and we've had thousands of responses since then, after publicising it widely across all our platforms. However, we still want to make absolutely sure that everybody's had the chance to have their say before the summer holidays end.
The plan is a "high level" one so these are just ideas for now - we won't go ahead with anything until we've consulted you in more depth. Nonetheless, we need this plan in place to help us get Government funding in years to come and your comments will help us make sure we're on the right track.
Please take a look at our proposals, which include redesigned roundabouts at the junction of Eversley Road and Observer Way and improved crossings and surfacing on the latter:
 Village improvements to accompany relief road
We've almost finished improving the roads around Arborfield village and Arborfield Cross, which is the final stage in our Observer Way project after the relief road itself opened back in 2020.
These are set to wrap up by the start of next month and include gateways at the village entrances with markings and build-outs to slow vehicles down, a filter on School Road to restrict through traffic, speed limit reductions and more
The works, which were agreed after consultation with residents and other bodies like the police, will be followed by additional planting in October.
We'd like to thank residents for their patience while these were carried out and we've done all we can to keep delays and disruption to a minimum. You can get updates on these and other works across the borough.
Observer Way, and the research behind it, won an award from the Construction Industry Research and Information Association last year for its positive impact on biodiversity including bats and other local species.
Pedestrian crossing and more lined up
We’re still working to secure a permanent pedestrian crossing on Biggs Lane, near the junction with Princess Marina Drive.
This is Crest Nicholson’s duty under a legal agreement linked to its planning permission for new housing, and we’re now taking a look at its detailed designs. Once these are approved, we’ll push for the work to start promptly.
We know some of you are disappointed that this won’t be in place before the end of the summer holidays. Please be assured that the button-controlled temporary crossing, which Crest Nicholson is paying for, offers a safe alternative and won’t be removed until it is permanently replaced.
Additionally, we recently painted new road markings on nearby Baston Road and ordered 20mph flashing signs which we’re hoping to install within the next few weeks.
Major new road still on the horizon
We're close to opening the final section of Nine Mile Ride Extension between Bohunt School and the new roundabout off Park Lane, which will create a new access route from west to east across the Arborfield development.
It's taken longer than expected for a variety of reasons, including supply chain issues earlier this summer which delayed the installation of crossings, but we recently passed a significant milestone and thank you for bearing with us.
 Preparing local riders for road improvements
Horse riders have a chance to prepare for the eye-catching road improvements which we’re planning in Finchampstead, at the opposite end of the California Way greenway from the Arborfield major development.
We worked with our highways consultant WSP and the Wheatlands Farm livery yard to install a training panel that will help horses get used to our proposed new markings and improved road layout at California Crossroads.
The junction, consisting of two mini-roundabouts with five crossings, is set to be decorated with leaf-shaped designs in various colours as part of a scheme to slow traffic and make it look nicer.
However, during public consultations, some of you told us an unfamiliar surface could make your horses nervous. We took your concerns seriously and the new panel will allow you to have as much off-road training as they need before the improvements come, most likely at some stage in 2023.
There’s no charge to use it, but bookings must be made in advance so that enough time can be allocated for every user. Anyone who is interested should email Wheatlands Farm.
 Keeping up the fight for fairer deal on housing
We’re maintaining pressure on the Government to reduce the number of new homes that the borough is being forced to take - and to reform national planning rules to put more power in local hands.
The council leader Cllr Clive Jones, chief executive Susan Parsonage and other council representatives recently met the former prime minister and MP for Maidenhead Theresa May to seek her support for our call for a planning system that works for local communities.
Cllr Jones has also written to Greg Clark MP, who is responsible for the system as the Government’s new housing minister, urging him to honour his predecessor Michael Gove’s commitment to visit the borough and discuss this urgent issue in person.
Mr Gove promised to visit when he met Cllr Jones at this year's Local Government Association annual conference in Harrogate, but has since been replaced.
 Shops, pub, green and more still on course
Plans for a district centre with shops and other amenities off Nine Mile Ride Extension in Arborfield, near Bohunt School and Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, are still set to be submitted to us by the end of autumn.
Developer Crest Nicholson's scheme is expected to include a larger supermarket with a row of smaller shops and a village square for socialising, a community centre suiting various uses, a pub, community allotments and more.
There would be an improved village green on land to the north, incorporating a refurbishment of the former Arborfield Garrison's historic stables, with new sports facilities to come on the recreation ground through a separate application.
Work has been going on behind the scenes to move this forward and we'll let you know when anything is submitted, at which point you'll have a chance to share your views before we make a decision.
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