A major housing scheme at Priors Farm on the outskirts of Wokingham could see hundreds of new homes built on fields, together with a small village centre, school and a large new public green space.
A total of 850 more homes could be approved by Wokingham borough council’s planners for the strategic area south of the railway line in Wokingham – between Easthampstead Road and Old Wokingham Road.
Residents have until June 15 to object to it.
About 1,800 homes are already set to be built along the new South Wokingham distributor road between Finchampstead Road and London Road.
The chair of Wokingham Without parish council has urged Nine Mile Ride residents to get involved.
He said: “Wokingham Without residents have until June 16 to submit comments on planning application 241933, which is for 850 houses west of Old Wokingham Road and North and South of Easthampstead Road.
“Residents can submit their comments by going on to the Wokingham borough council planning portal.”
The ongoing development has closed the ‘main thoroughfare’ Easthampstead Road, forcing more traffic through local housing estates and narrow country roads, fundamentally compromising safety and accessibility, according to a borough councillor.
It would make a total of 2,650 new houses in Wokingham but a tributary of the Emm Brook runs east–west through the northern parcel, with ancient woodland to the north‑east, veteran trees on the boundaries, and three public rights of way crossing the land.
The land is currently farmland crossed by a stream, public footpaths and framed by hedgerows and woodland.
Developers are seeking outline permission for an extra 850 homes, a neighbourhood centre with shops and community space, formal and informal open areas and land for a primary school, along with a detailed plan for new parkland designed to take pressure off nearby protected heathland.
Newly co‑opted Wokingham Without councillor Colin Wright (Reform UK) lodged a formal objection, saying the scheme is “a major speculative expansion of housing into open countryside” and arguing it fails national tests for truly sustainable development.
The layout concentrates most housing north of the main watercourse in a more urban pattern, with a smaller, more rural‑feeling area south of the brook facing Easthampstead Road.
A central park along the stream, a series of local squares and a market square with community and commercial uses are intended to tie the new streets together, with buildings generally two to three storeys high and design cues taken from older parts of Wokingham.
Main vehicle access would come from a new roundabout on Old Wokingham Road, feeding a primary street and bus route that links through Byway 30 and neighbouring land towards Easthampstead Road and the South Wokingham distributor road network.
The scheme includes a planned closure of part of Easthampstead Road to through‑traffic to encourage walking and cycling, and the internal layout is designed so that all homes would be within roughly ten minutes’ walk of the local centre and bus stops.
Because the site lies within five kilometres of the Thames Basin Heaths special protection area, the plans include around 20 hectares of new natural‑style parkland with a 2.5‑kilometre circular walking route, play areas, dog‑walking space and links to existing paths, to be delivered before the first homes are occupied and managed long‑term through legal agreements.
A habitat assessment prepared for the developers concludes that, with this new green space and contributions to wider visitor management in place, the extra homes would not harm the protected heathland or its rare bird species through extra recreation or traffic pollution.
Cllr Wright, who lives nearby, argues the development would still be heavily dependent on cars, worsen already busy roads and add to pressure on schools, health services and other facilities.
He is particularly critical of impacts on the “dangerous” Old Wokingham Road/Easthampstead Road junction, which sits on the boundary between Wokingham and Bracknell Forest, warning that key road changes there rely on future funding and cross‑council agreement and should not be taken for granted when deciding the application.
Wokingham Without borough councillor Seona Turtle urged residents to engage with Wokingham borough council by June 15.
She said: “This request fails to consider the significant developments taking place in neighbouring Bracknell.
“The cumulative impact of this new proposal raises serious concerns about sustainability and the strain it will place on our community.
“With public transport options severely lacking and roads already grappling with gridlock, the situation is becoming increasingly dire.
“If the Local Plan Update is approved, Wokingham Without could see a staggering total of 3,600 homes built.
“The expansion does not account for the already stretched local services, nor does it provide sufficient green space for residents to enjoy.
“We cannot overlook the overwhelming pressure this will place on our already inundated infrastructure.
For more information and to submit your comments, please visit the Wokingham borough council planning portal by June 16 and search for application number 241933.
