Plans to build almost 500 homes in Wokingham Borough have been branded ‘absolute lunacy’ by villagers, who say their area is already struggling with new development.
Development consultancy Pegasus Group submitted plans for up to 475 homes south of Spencers Wood to Wokingham Borough Council in May. Those plans include a primary school, local centre and green space.
But dozens of people have objected, arguing that roads and schools are already overcrowded – and fearing a loss of open space.
Ash Best of Church Lane told council planning officers: “There’s already plenty of houses. Traffic is already so bad, there’s not enough schools and the effect on the wildlife will be immense.
“There are not many places in Reading/Wokingham that have so much green space. My house is one of the old ones on Church Lane, right next door there used to be a huge field, deer would come into our garden and eat the fallen fruit from out trees and now there’s nothing.”
David Kmiecik of Elisha Close said: “This is absolute lunacy to consider adding more properties to an overpopulated area.”
The proposals are to build homes, a school, a ‘local centre’, a park and recreation space on 95 acres of land south of Spencers Wood between Basingstoke Road and Sussex Lane.
The developers have applied for a ‘screening opinion’ from Wokingham Borough Council. This is not a full planning application, but a request to determine whether a development would have ‘significant effects on the environment’.
You can view more information by searching planning application number 241261 on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
The consultation remains open until June 12.
