‘Setback’ to Norwood’s £16m Ravenswood village redevelopment plans

Plans for an ambitious £16million redevelopment of Norwood’s Ravenswood village in Berkshire appeared to have been dealt a major blow after Persimmon Homes reportedly dropped out of the project.

The site is a home to people with learning disabilities and features an indoor hydrotherapy pool, coffee shop, riding school, and dance and art studios.

According to a report in the Jewish Chronicle, published on Thursday, Persimmon Homes withdrew from the project, which had apparently included plans to allocate a portion of land to the housebuilding company for housing.

Norwood’s chief executive, Dr Beverley Jacobson, described the news as “clearly a setback”.

She told the newspaper that “while this is clearly a setback in our ambition for Ravenswood, we will apply our creativity, and passion for the people we support, to develop an exciting new plan of action”.

“We will continue to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of the people we support, and of our staff, are at the forefront of all our thinking,” she added.

Wokingham Borough Council rejected in November last year a planning application submitted by Norwood outlining a similar proposal.

Persimmon Homes was contacted for comment.