Wokingham

Wokingham District Council last week (Tuesday September 12) received a planning application from Bovis Homes and Persimmon Homes to develop land in Winnersh known as Hatch Farm Dairies. The council has now validated the application and is beginning the statutory consultation process.

In February this year (2006), Wokingham council sent a leaflet to all households in the area informing them of the developer’s approach to the council, and the likely implications of any proposed development on the site.

The Wokingham District Local Plan was adopted in March 2004 after a public inquiry by the government inspector. The plan includes the Hatch Farm Dairies site and states that it is suitable for housing development. The plan also indicates that any such development would require significant improvements to the local infrastructure, namely roads and schools. When considering the application for development, the council will have to carefully consider these issues, amongst others.

New development would obviously mean an increase in school-age children in the Winnersh area, which the Local Plan indicates the council should seek to address with a new primary school to be provided as part of the development.

Should the development go ahead, in order to build on the school’s success and in light of the planning application, Wokingham council would propose to move Bearwood Primary School to brand-new, purpose-built facilities at the Hatch Farm Dairies site. Any such move would look to develop the current ethos of the school, whilst replacing 19th century buildings and facilities with those fit for the 21st century.

Wokingham council is aware that a development at Hatch Farm Dairies would result in increased traffic in the area and significant road improvements would be needed to alleviate this. The Wokingham District Local Plan states that any development of this site would require a new road to serve it, and this would be constructed between Lower Earley Way and A329 Reading Road. The developers’ application includes a proposal for a road running adjacent to the site and, should the development go-ahead, the council would look to extend this road to Lower Earley Way, providing a Winnersh relief road. The council will seek to secure the funding for this through developer contribution (section 106 money). Any proposals for such a road would be subject to further public consultation.

The application will now run through the usual planning process. Residents within a 200 metre radius of the site will receive the normal notification and opportunity to comment. Details will shortly be on the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk and comments can be made online or in writing. The application will be judged on its individual merits and against national planning policy in the usual manner and will go before the council’s Planning Committee.

Wokingham District Council