Wokingham

Getting involved with and influencing Wokingham development plans that could affect the Wokingham district is now a lot easier, thanks to adoption by the council of a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).

The Wokingham SCI takes the form of an easy guide to various planning procedures and protocols and follows extensive consultation with community groups that began in 2005 as part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) - a series of documents that sets out where buildings, from homes and community buildings to shops and schools, may be built in future.

Central to the SCI’s development was analysis of the results of two questionnaires sent to over 1,200 people in the district asking how they would like to give and receive information and how much involvement they would like in larger planning applications. Details of these consultations are available at www.wokingham.gov.uk/sci.

Another part of the consultation process included examination of the SCI by an independent inspector representing the Secretary of State. The inspectors report is legally binding and can be seen on Wokingham council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/sci-adopted, along with the SCI itself.

The SCI explains in an easy format how groups and individuals can become involved with the planning process even before development proposals are first submitted to the council. The SCI encourages more publicity and public consultation than is formally required in law alone for planning regulations, thus ensuring that when controversial or large scale applications are made, more public awareness may be generated through exhibitions or, leaflet distribution for example.

Wokingham Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for local and regional planning, said: “The SCI is part of a wider set of initiatives concerning planning within the Local Development Framework and I am pleased that so many people contributed to its formation. We needed to get it right so that there is a written procedure detailing how people can have early and active influence in planning for the district.”

Paper copies of the SCI are available in libraries throughout the Wokingham district. Any queries about the SCI or the Local Development Framework can be addressed to the development plans team by email at policyandplans@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham District Council