Pippa Middleton's husband, James Matthews, has faced significant pushback regarding his plans to establish a countryside creche at Bucklebury Farm, a site he purchased in March 2021 for £1.3 million. Located approximately 4 kilometers northeast of Thatcham, the farm has been a public attraction since 1992 and is near the childhood home of Pippa and her siblings, including the Princess of Wales.
The proposal for the nursery has raised alarms among local highways officials, who argue that the additional traffic generated by the creche would be unsustainable for the rural area. Councillor Christopher Read, representing Bucklebury, has formally requested that the planning committee debate the proposal, highlighting the community's concerns.
According to the West Berkshire Council's highways department, there are "significant concerns" regarding the potential increase in vehicle movements. The department noted that the building might be used independently of the farm park, leading to what they described as an "unacceptable increase in vehicle movements in an unsustainable location." They emphasized that there are no alternative modes of transport available to access the site other than by private car.
"When the local highways authority assessed the 2023 planning application, there were concerns that the building would be utilized independently of the farm park and that there would be an unacceptable increase in vehicle movements in an unsustainable location," the highways department stated. They added that the application was initially accepted on the condition that the facility would only be used once or twice a week.
However, the current application seeks to establish a non-residential creche, day center, or nursery, which could lead to daily vehicle movements from staff and children. The highways department concluded that this would significantly impact the area's traffic conditions.
The Matthews family has made several improvements to Bucklebury Farm since acquiring it, including a deer park, soft play area, animal petting facilities, and a café. They argue that the new nursery would offer local parents more options, especially since there are no similar facilities within a five-mile radius. Current local nurseries often do not provide care during school holidays, leaving many parents without options.
Plans for the nursery involve utilizing a log cabin that was approved for staff accommodation in 2015. A change of use was granted in 2023 to allow the building to serve as office space. However, for the nursery to operate legally, another change of use must be approved.
Despite the opposition from highways officials, the Bucklebury Parish Council has expressed no formal objection to the plans but has raised concerns regarding vehicle access to the proposed facility. "The plans are not clear on where staff or parents will be expected to park," they noted.
Caroline Downie, a representative for the Matthews family, sought to alleviate concerns by stating that the nursery would accommodate a maximum of 24 children and would take three years to reach full capacity. She mentioned that there are already 17 to 20 parents interested in enrolling their children if the facility opens.
Downie also provided estimates for the expected vehicle movements, projecting an increase of 48 additional vehicle trips per day, which translates to approximately 240 extra trips weekly or about 12,480 annually. Last year, Bucklebury Farm welcomed around 45,000 visitors, resulting in an estimated 30,000 vehicle movements. Adding the nursery would still keep the total vehicle movements below the 70,000 limit set by the local council.
The planning committee is expected to make a decision on the application by mid-April 2025. As the debate continues, local residents and stakeholders are keenly watching how the proposal will unfold, balancing the need for childcare options against the potential impact on the rural community.
