The incorporation of more than 1,500 upcoming homes south of Wokingham has been welcomed amid a clash over which area new residents will belong to.
Exciting news for Wokingham as over 1,500 new homes are set to be built south of the Reading to Waterloo railway line. This major development, referred to as a strategic development location (SDL), has sparked a debate over which council area these new residents will belong to.
As residents move in, they will need to pay council tax to both the borough and their respective town or parish council. Wokingham Borough Council is currently reviewing community governance to determine how many homes will fall under each council.
It’s recommended that the SDL homes be served by Wokingham Without Parish Council, which covers rural areas and parts of Crowthorne. Councillor Nicholas Martin, chairman of the parish council, expressed delight at the recommendation, emphasising that residents of Wokingham Without have access to facilities in Crowthorne, Bracknell, and Wokingham town centre.
However, there’s a clash with a proposal to include the new homes in Wokingham Town Council instead. Borough councillor Rachel Burgess argued that new residents will likely feel more connected to Wokingham Town services, stating, "Anyone looking to buy or rent in this area will say they’ve moved to Wokingham."
Cllr Martin countered that the SDL is better suited to Wokingham Without, noting that the first phase will be named 'Sawyer Green' in honour of a local family. He maintained that the railway line acts as a clear boundary limiting access to Wokingham Town.
Residents are encouraged to share their views on these proposals, which are open for consultation until November 13 on the borough council's website. It's worth noting that living in Wokingham Without is slightly more costly; for a Band D property, residents pay £78.27 compared to £74.85 in Wokingham Town.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
