A CALL for clarity of the status of Hall Farm in the new local plan for Wokingham borough’s housing numbers has been sought by a member of the public.
Jan Heard wanted to know if the new Lib Dem-run executive would remove the site, and its proposed 4,500 homes, from the proposals.
She also requested: “(They) ensure that relevant policies and voices are given full weight in planning matters”, including the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan, and advice from Wokingham Borough Council’s landscape officer.
Responding, Cllr Lindsay Ferris, the new executive member for planning and the local plan, said the previous, Conservative-led administration had driven the previous consultation on the local plan update which gave people an opportunity to share opinions on the various proposed developments.
“It would be wrong to predetermine the local planning process,” he said. “I can assure you we will carefully review what has been said in response to the consultation before deciding how to move forward.”
Since the local elections, the new executive had engaged with Michael Gove, and met with MPs. Cllr Ferris said they had “received strong support” from them.
On the consultation he said: “Comments were received towards all of the proposed allocations, and on other matters, such as infrastructure provision, the need for new homes, the need for new jobs and the need as far as possible to protect our environment in Greenbelt.
“This includes specific issues of landscape heritage.”
He continued: “Experience within the borough and elsewhere across the country show that we must have a new local plan, not having an effective plan would mean loss of control or less control over where development happens.
“It is also much harder to invest in improvements to infrastructure, such as roads and schools, where the timing and allocation of development is driven by developers in an ad hoc and dispersed pattern.”
Ms Heard said she was pleased that Mr Gove had pledged to come to Wokingham. She added that she was concerned “the University of Reading is now promoting the garden village on its online website.
“I’m rather concerned about the northern wards dominating the planning section of the council, again.”
This was a reference to Cllr Ferris being a ward member for Twyford, while the previous council leader represents Wargrave, Remenham and Ruscombe, and the executive member for the local plan represents Hurst.
On Hall Farm, she said: “Before the election Cllr Jones made the protest about Hall Farm and photobombed the group photograph. I’d like to make the point that residents expect results.”
Cllr Ferris said his position was “totally irrelevant” and “I will be doing this role strictly in line with planning roles”.
The proposed meeting with Michael Gove was so the council could set out Wokingham’s issues and “have a good case to be able to present to him to see whether we can get a new calculation done (on housing numbers).
“One area in particular that we feel needs to be taken into account is the fact that this council has over-provided on the number of houses for at least six or seven years. And we estimate that that is at least 3,000 above what we would have been needed (to provide),” Cllr Ferris said.
He also confirmed that Hall Farm was among the top areas for residents’ objections in the recent consultation.
