70 Home Development Plan Rejected in Caversham

A plan to add 70 homes to the Emmer Green Drive estate being built on the former Reading Golf Course has been dismissed.

Emmer Green Drive is a new estate of 223 homes under construction in Caversham by Vistry Thames Valley.

Reading Golf Club and Fairfax Acquisitions had sought permission to build 70 extra homes on land within South Oxfordshire District Council's area, but SODC's planning committee rejected the proposal last December.

Fairfax appealed to the planning inspectorate, saying the site was sustainable and that 28 of the homes (40%) would be affordable.

Planning inspector Benjamin Webb dismissed the appeal, saying the project isn't in South Oxfordshire's Local Plan and would be harmful to the site's ecology.

The proposal included access from Emmer Green Drive in Reading Borough; Fairfax also accused Reading Borough Council of failing to determine that part of the application, but Mr Webb ruled in favour of Reading council.

Celebrating the news on Facebook, the Keep Emmer Green campaign group posted: "Best news ever!! The appeal has been dismissed! Can't quite believe it!

"Thank you to everyone for giving your time, financial support, encouragement, wisdom, for writing and objecting over many years.

"Huge thanks to the Caversham and District Residents Association (CADRA), Kidmore End Parish Council, South Oxfordshire councillors and officers and the crowdfunded barrister John Fitzsimons and ultimately to the inspector for actually listening to local people.

"A good day to Keep Emmer Green!"

Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central, which covers Caversham, said: "I am pleased and relieved that the planning inspector has turned down the appeal.

"This is an important decision as it stops the developer building in an important area of green land next to Reading and it also stops a precedent being set.

"I do want to see more homes built in our area but on brownfield land, regenerating existing towns and villages, so green spaces are protected."

So far, there has been no public reaction from Freddie van Mierlo, the Liberal Democrat MP for Henley & Thame, which covers Kidmore End.

You can view Mr Webb's decision by typing references APP/Q3115/A/25/3377313 and APP/Q3115/A/25/3377314 into the planning inspectorate website.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter