Pippa Middleton has been caught up in a battle after her husband’s plans to open a countryside crèche were slammed by highway bosses. Roads chiefs have reportedly said that the idea for the rural nursery will mean too many cars will clog the roads.
James Matthews, who has been married to Pippa since 2017, bought rural Bucklebury Farm with his business partner James Murray for £1.3m in 2021.
Situated near to where Pippa, her sister and brother – Kate, the Princess of Wales, 43, and James Middleton, 37, – grew up, the site has been open to the public since 1992. But Mr Matthews now wants to open a creche on the site.
The local council’s road experts have reportedly now voiced “significant concerns,” claiming to be worried about the extra number of cars the creche will spark. They have called on the council to refuse the plans.
Cllr Christopher Read, the ward member for Bucklebury, is also worried about the plans and has applied to have the decision debated by the planning committee.
West Berkshire Council’s highways department has said of the plans: “When the local highways authority assessed (the 2023 planning application) there were concerns that the building would be utilised independently of the farm park and that there would be an unacceptable increase in vehicle movements in an unsustainable location. There are no alternative modes of travel to the site other than private car.
“The application was, on balance, accepted by highways on the basis that the use was proposed to be once or twice a week.
“This application now seeks to add in a non-residential creche, day centre or nursery. This is a significant concern. This would result in staff and children/attendees’ vehicle movements, travelling to and from the site potentially daily, in what is an unsustainable location.”
They added: “No details of sessions, capacity etc is provided, which should accompany an application such as this, however this will not overcome the highway concerns with this proposal.
“A creche, day centre or nursery could see a much greater use at the site, potentially daily use, with all staff and children/attendees travelling to the site by private car.
“The proposed additional use class would result in an unacceptable increase in vehicle movements in what is an unsustainable location.”
Bucklebury Farm has a deer park, soft play area, animal petting, office space and cafe.
Mr Matthews hopes that the creche would give more options to local parents, as current nurseries in the area do not provide cover during the school holidays.
They plan on converting an existing building into the nursery but need permission to open it as a site for early years education.
