Wokingham

The case for a reduced level of house building for the Wokingham district is continuing to be made by Wokingham District Council. It still, however, has to accept that some development will take place and, whilst arguing for a lower number of houses, legislation requires the council to plan for the future housing growth set out in the Berkshire Structure Plan.

After several rounds of consultation, Wokingham council officers have produced the Local Development Framework core strategy setting out a broad approach for where future development should go. And at its meeting on Thursday July 27 the council’s decision-making executive is being asked to approve the document for final consultation and its submission to government.

The Local Development Framework is a series of documents that will guide development in the district from 2006 to 2026, replacing the current Local Plan. This process involves extensive consultation and community feedback has been used to amend and develop early ideas.

The core strategy has been designed to protect key features of the district’s landscape, ecology, heritage and environment. It also aims to ensure that everyone has good access to services such as schools, health and community facilities.

Therefore, it proposes that residential development should be concentrated in those towns and villages that either have an existing significant range of those services, or it is envisaged that they will have in the future (over the 20 year period of the plan).

In general, the core strategy states that major development would be acceptable only where there is an existing population over 10,000 or where there is reasonable access to a current or planned town or district centre. Limited development may take place where there is a shop selling convenience goods, or a primary school.

Whilst Wokingham council is continuing to make a strong case for reduced housing numbers, the scale of development set out in the emerging South East Plan cannot be accommodated within existing settlement boundaries without harm to the character of the district. Consultation has also shown that there is community support for major growth in a few locations rather than distribution of development across the district.

Consequently, the core strategy suggests five strategic locations where residential development is most likely to be concentrated: Arborfield including the garrison, Shinfield/Spencers Wood/Three Mile Cross, north Wokingham, south Wokingham and south west Winnersh.

Other development is likely to occur in and around the established settlements of Earley, Twyford, Winnersh, Wokingham and Woodley. The council will look to improve the sustainability of all locations identified for development so that they can include the necessary services, amenities and infrastructure required for the period covered by the plan. Without these improvements, the areas would not be suitable for further development.

The core strategy states that all such improvements (including increased choice in the modes of transport available to the community) will need to be made before significant development proposals are completed.

Executive member for local and regional planning Wokingham Cllr Gary Cowan said: “Whilst we continue to fight excessive development at every opportunity, the council has to be realistic and accept that new homes will need to be built over the next 20 years. It’s a difficult job trying to balance this requirement with the aspirations of our communities, which is why the extensive consultation we have undertaken is vital.

“We have taken people’s views into account in this core strategy and, should the executive give it the green light, people will have another opportunity to comment on the document before it is considered by a government-appointed planning inspector at an examination in public scheduled to take place in February/March 2007.”

If the core strategy is given the go-ahead by the executive and subsequently full council, this further consultation is likely to take place from August 30 to October 11, 2006.

The core strategy will be available on Wokingham council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk or at the district’s libraries and the library in Crowthorne. Comments can be submitted online, emailed to policyandplans@wokingham.gov.uk, faxed to (0118) 974 6385 or sent by post to Development Plans Team, Strategy and Partnerships, Wokingham District Council, PO Box 157, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WR. All comments must be received by 5pm on October 11. Anyone with questions should contact the development plans team on (0118) 974 6478.

Wokingham District Council