Plans to build 140 homes on Reading Football Club’s former training ground have moved a step closer following full approval being granted.
Last week, Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee gave the go ahead for proposals relating to appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale – called reserved matters – after the initial outline plan was approved in March of this year.
The site, at Hogwood Park in Finchampstead, currently comprises of football training pitches and temporary buildings. Now vacant, it was Reading Football Club’s training ground until their relocation to Bearwood Park in 2020.
Concerns were raised during the initial outline application about the possibility of noise and odour emanating from the nearby Hogwood Industrial Estate.
However, Cllr Andrew Mickleburgh was “pleased to see” the concerns had been addressed after assessments carried out concluded that there would be “negligible potential impact” on the area.
The 25-acre development site will see 56 affordable housing built (40%), which will comprise two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes – while the remaining private properties will range from two- to five-bedrooms.
Cllr John Kaiser raised concerns about the number of four-bedroom properties, with the number 13% higher than required. He said the borough has a “housing crisis” with regards to small affordable homes.
“Why do we breach this rule on nearly every application we get?” he asked.
Cllr Mickleburgh, who proposed to support the officer’s recommendation to approve, found it “particularly pleasing” that the design of the affordable houses will make them “indistinguishable” from the others.
The site will be accessed from two locations, one from the existing point on Park Lane and a second from further up the lane to the north. Pedestrian and cycle routes will also be provided through the SANG to Biggs Lane.
The main road that will run through the development is earmarked for adoption by Wokingham Borough Council and has been designed to meet the required standards.
There will be a 2.8-hectare area of public greenspace, known as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), as well as a community green located in the central part of the development containing a children’s play area.
All properties will have a garden and parking spaces, as well as each being fitted with electric vehicle charging points.
Cllr Stephen Conway praised the “high quality” development and the number of affordable housing. He said the plan is “as good as we are going to get” for the site.
The application was approved by the committee, with just one abstention from Cllr Kaiser.
