Plans for less than a dozen homes deemed a ‘profiteering land grab’ have been approved by the council.
Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee gave the green light for nine homes to be built on land south of Oak Tree, Waingels Road, in Charvil.
Although the land is ‘designated countryside’, it is currently private and used for landfill.
Situated close to Waingels Road, Park Lane and Denmark Avenue, the land is also near the playing fields of Waingels School.
The proposal had proved controversial with local councillors and residents who said building on the private land would be unsuitable and would close the gap between Charvil and neighbouring Woodley.
Wolf Bond Planning was only seeking permission in principle, meaning matters like drainage, design or size of the home were not to be presented or considered.
Rather, the committee only focused on whether the use of the land was acceptable.
Adam Constantinou, agent of the applicant, argued it was a sustainable location, within walking and cycling distance to Woodley and Charvil.
Mr Constantinou said the proposal was a ‘logical, well enclosed addition [of homes], rather than isolated development’.
But Lee Cripps from Charvil Parish Council said: “This feels nothing more than a profiteering land grab to squeeze nine homes into an unsuitable plot of land.
“Adding nine houses to a road of eight existing dwellings – creating a wholly new development line – is not infill.”
The Parish Council took issue with the size of the land, at 2.3 acres, arguing other homes in the area were much larger, at 1 to 1.5 acres each.
Resident Jim Gillet said the application ‘flies in the face of normal planning guidance’.
Councillor Wayne Smith worried the homes would be a ‘back garden development’ and said the site was ‘not logical’.
Cllr Smith also argued shops and facilities were far away.
But planning officers and the agent said it was a sustainable location, as confirmed by highways teams and the planning inspectorate.
Many committee members raised concerns about the proximity of the homes to Ashenbury Lake, and the potential impact of the new homes on sewage.
But planning officers reminded committee members these would be considered at a later stage, due to the ‘permission in principle’ application.
Cllr Martijn Andrea said the concerns ‘need to be addressed sufficiently’ at the next stage.
The plans were approved by the committee, with Cllr Wayne Smith voting against.
If it is listed by a councillor or has a number of objections, the next stage of the application will go to the planning committee.
