'Alarming' new homes could lead to children getting hit by cricket balls, campaigners argue

Campaigners are pushing back against a plan for greenbelt homes they say will be at risk of flooding and may lead to children getting hit by fast-moving cricket balls.

The Shurlock Row application (26/00175) by Castlemere Developments proposes nine homes on a half-hectare of open land next to Morland House on Hungerford Lane.

This is adjacent to Yeo Memorial Ground, where Waltham St Lawrence Cricket Club plays.

One significant concern was that the developer had apparently not assessed the risk posed by cricket balls flying into the gardens from the cricket grounds.

Rupe Patel, treasurer and manager of the cricket club, said that balls are regularly hit ‘deep into the garden’ of Morland House.

He said there is therefore a ‘strong risk’ that a cricket ball may hit a child in one of the proposed new gardens.

“Nobody has spoken to us to discuss the risk,” Mr Patel said. “We weren’t even told the application had been submitted.”

Campaigners want to protect this greenbelt site for future generations and believe this site is closer to ‘greenfield’ (undeveloped) than ‘grey belt’ (previously developed) land – so the bar for development should be higher.

They staunchly believe that ‘the developer cannot claim this is anything other than pristine greenbelt.’

Heritage-wise, campaigners also argue that the site plays a vital role in controlling urban sprawl and preserving the area’s historic setting.

“This is one of the oldest and most characteristic parts of our village,” said a spokesperson. “The open character of this land, right on the edge of the conservation area, defines what Shurlock Row looks like.

“Once you build on it, that character is gone permanently.”

By contrast, Archway Heritage consultancy thinks there would be a ‘minor’ adverse effect on the conservation area which would be mitigated by screening from walls, hedges and trees.

But campaigners believe this effectively just ‘admits the mitigation doesn’t work’.

“You can’t acknowledge harm and then say your planting scheme fixes it in the same breath. The law requires this harm to be taken very seriously,” their spokesperson said.

Campaigners have also raised concerns about flooding, saying the drainage strategy map shows medium to high surface water flood risk.

Tests showed the clay ground barely absorbs water, suggesting rain is likely to collect and sit on the surface rather than drain away.

However, Kris Collett, co-founder of Castlemere Developments, stands by claims that there would not be an increased flood risk – and the impact on heritage is officially ‘acceptable’.

Regarding the flying cricket balls risk, he said there is an 80m distance from the batting crease to the boundary of the proposed gardens.

“From our research this would be enough clearance not to cause any issues,” he said.

“There are already other houses adjacent and there is no history of any cricket balls landing in their gardens.

“We do, however, appreciate local concerns and will be placing covenants on the land to ensure future occupiers cannot object to the cricket ground.”

He also confirmed the proposal will include 45 per cent affordable housing on site and that Castlemere has partnered with a community land trust which will take responsibility for this.

“There have been issues in the parish in recent years where affordable housing has been lost, so we are excited to be able to contribute,” he said.