Philberds Place is a proposed residential development by Cala Homes (Thames) on land to the east of Ascot Road, Holyport, within the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. The full planning application sought consent for 150 new homes, with the south-eastern part of the site developed for housing and the remainder provided as open space and wider community benefit.
The site sits within the Green Belt but was considered to meet the criteria of Grey Belt. That made transport strategy an important part of the planning case, not only in terms of access and impact, but in demonstrating that the proposals would support better local connectivity and tangible infrastructure improvements.
The scheme was designed to deliver more than housing alone. Alongside the new homes, it proposed a strategic active travel link between Holyport Road and Ascot Road, improved permeability through the site, enhanced links to Public Rights of Way and upgraded crossing facilities to connect surrounding communities to local services and facilities.
The planning context was also shaped by the site’s history. Two earlier residential applications had already been considered. While one appeal was dismissed on Green Belt grounds, there had been no highway reasons for dismissal, and no highway objection from the Council. A later application also received no highway objection subject to conditions and mitigation, although it was ultimately refused on other grounds. Against that background, the aim was to present a stronger, clearer and more policy-responsive transport case for this latest proposal.
To reduce planning risk from a transport and highways perspective, iTransport engaged with the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead at an early stage and on more than one occasion before the application was submitted.
The first stage of engagement took the form of a Transport Pre-Application Note, followed by a meeting with the highway authority to discuss the principles of development. This covered multi-modal access, the likely scope of transport analysis and the extent of supporting work required, including walking and cycling audits, collision data review and traffic surveys.
Building on that initial dialogue, iTransport then prepared a detailed Transport Assessment Scoping Note to formally set out and agree the scope of the assessment and the proposed access arrangements. A second pre-application meeting gave the team an opportunity to test the proposals further, resolve points of concern and refine the transport strategy before submission.
The planning application was ultimately supported by a vision-led Transport Assessment and Travel Plan. Senior input was provided throughout, led by Partner Tim Wall with support from Associate Chris Pringle, ensuring both technical robustness and close client support.
A central part of the strategy was demonstrating that the site sat within walking distance of key local services and facilities, including schools, GP services and convenience retail. The transport case also needed to show that the scheme would reduce reliance on private car use by improving pedestrian and cycle access, adding a crossing on Holyport Road, enhancing bus stop infrastructure and creating a new pedestrian/cycle link to Ascot Road.
iTransport’s key influence on the scheme was to strengthen its connectivity and permeability for pedestrians and cyclists, helping support the wider planning case for development in a sensitive Green Belt / Grey Belt context.
The transport strategy demonstrated how the site could offer tangible local benefits beyond the housing itself, including improved crossing facilities, stronger walking and cycling links, upgraded bus stop infrastructure and better access to nearby services, employment areas and the wider Public Rights of Way network.
iTransport also helped secure agreement on a simpler vehicular access arrangement than had previously been accepted on earlier iterations of the site. The proposed priority junction, with reduced geometry, offered a more restrained and place-sensitive solution, improving pedestrian amenity while also reducing cost and land take.
The application was prepared for submission in June 2026. Final outcome wording can be updated once the application has been determined.
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