Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee is set to approve an outline planning application for 26 new homes on Barkham Ride.
At its meeting on Wednesday (June 12), councillors are being recommended to approve the application at 31 Barkham Ride, which will see an existing property and garage demolished to make way for the new homes.
The 1.48 hectare sit, adjacent to Rook’s Nest Country Park, is split between the dwelling (and its amenity space), and an informal area of open space for the Victoria Gardens development which lies to the east.
Victoria Gardens is an estate of 25 mobile homes.
Outline permission has been applied for, with only the principle of development and access being formally considered under this application.
Appearance, layout, scale and landscaping are reserved matters for future consideration. Because of this, the final layout, including housing mix, as shown under this application, is indicative.
The site, along with 33 Barkham Ride, is allocated within the Wokingham Local Plan Update (LPU) Revised Growth Strategy (RGS) for a combined 66 dwellings.
The Finchampstead Neighbourhood Development Plan notes and supports the proposed allocations within RGS located within the parish. This includes the proposed allocation of 31-33 Barkham Ride.
Whilst the LPU is at a consultative stage of preparation, and therefore holds limited weight in the planning balance, the borough does not have a five-year housing land supply.
This means that where there are no relevant development plan policies, or the policies which are most important for determining the application are out-of-date, permission should be granted unless the “adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
The proposal has been deemed acceptable by council officers in principle, in relation to the existing countryside and landscape, albeit with the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping still to be formally considered at a later date.
It is considered that suitable dwelling types, mix and standards have the potential to be achieved, and 26 dwellings is an appropriate density on the settlement edge.
It has also demonstrated that the proposal, in principle, has suitable access provision to and from Barkham Ride and can be accommodated in the existing highway network.
A contribution will be made by the applicant to extend the 30mph speed limit westwards to include the entrance to the site, meaning it will start at the boundary of Barkham.
It is recognised that opportunities for sustainable modes of transport in this location are lacking, but not to a sufficient degree that the site would be at odds with the existing settlement of Finchampstead North.
The application is recommended for approval subject to a number of conditions and legal obligations.
In the planning statement submitted with the application, Thomas Roberts of A1 Properties, through his planning agent, said: “This application proposal represents a sensible and beneficial scheme to provide 26 new family homes in a sustainable location to meet demand for new housing.
“The layout and proposed scale of development has been carefully conceived to ensure that it will result in a sensitive form of development that will respect the character and appearance of the surrounding local area, which includes neighbouring residential development as well as open space and woodland.
“The proposed residential redevelopment is in accordance with national and local planning policy.
“Planning permission is respectfully sought.”
In March 2024, an outline planning application for 56 residential dwellings with associated access at neighbouring 33 Barkham Ride was granted, subject to a legal agreement being in place.
For more information, search planning application 230791 on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
