A decision on a plan to build 200 homes on farmland in Twyford has been postponed over traffic and education concerns.
Croudace Homes was hoping to get its plan for a housing development at Bridge Farm approved.
However, councillors sought clarification on some aspects of the proposal, including the impact the development could have on traffic, particularly Twyford Station.
Cllr Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford) complained that he recently waited 25 minutes to get to the A4 Wargrave Road roundabout.
“My fear is there is an assumption that most residents living on the site who want to use Twyford Station will walk and cycle there, I think that might be overly optimistic,” he said.
“My belief is that many people living on the north of the site and on wet days will actually be driven to the station by other members of their family or household and be collected there in the evening.
“If that were the case it would generate four journeys through the already congested crossroads for every commuter driven to and from the station.”
He asked that the decision be deferred so more detailed traffic projections could be undertaken.
Councillors also requested data on school place projections for the next five to 10 years, and asked for more information on the pedestrian and cycle routes proposed, particularly those leading to Piggot School.
Additionally, councillors wanted answers from the developers on how they hope to manage a potential ‘access conflict’ between pedestrian and cyclists and vehicles coming to and from the Cedar Park Nursery.
Cllr Rebecca Margetts (Conservative, Finchampstead South) said developers could appeal to get the homes built without providing the information in a ‘worst case scenario’.
A Wokingham Borough Council officer told the planning committee meeting of December 14, there is a risk of appeal, as developers are allowed to appeal to the government planning inspectorate if a council fails to determine an application within an allocated timeframe.
There was also discussion about the borough’s lack of a five-year land supply.
If a council cannot demonstrate this, developers are more likely to achieve planning permission in places which have not been allocated for development within an existing Local Plan.
Cllr Wayne Smith (Conservative, Hurst) said: “We’re only seeing this because of the situation of our five-year land supply.
“It just seems to me that this borough is now being completely hammered for over-delivering housing since 2017 and now we’re getting the rough of it.”
Arguing for the scheme, Chris Roberts, an agent for Croudace Homes, stated the development would bring a number of benefits, including a new public park along the River Loddon, the planting of approximately 350 new trees and the provision of 80 affordable homes – 40% of the scheme.
The vote to defer was unanimous.
