Council Approves Controversial Wokingham Flats Plan

A plan to add flats on top of a converted office block in Wokingham town centre has been decided.

Plans to add flats atop a converted office block in Wokingham town centre have been greenlit.

Ascot House, located near Carnival Hub and Premier Inn, was transformed into 21 flats after receiving approval in 2021. Klara Homes sought to add eight more units—six one-beds and two two-beds—by extending upwards.

However, local residents opposed the plan, raising concerns at a Wokingham Borough Council planning committee meeting. Aaron Berney, a local resident, expressed that “the visual mass of this development is inappropriate,” fearing it would overlook nearby two-storey houses, infringing on their privacy.

Berney added that some residents bought their top-floor flats believing no further development would occur and were misled about promised amenities, like a lift, which was ultimately removed. A resident even sold her flat at a loss due to accessibility issues.

Councillor Moses Iyengunmwena echoed these concerns but planning officer Benjamin Hindle defended the decision, noting accessible ground-floor units and adequate parking spaces would be provided.

Klara Homes' representative, Gardiner Hanson, assured that measures would be taken to minimise construction impacts. Ultimately, six councillors voted in favour while two opposed, leading to the plan’s approval on November 12.

You can view the application by typing reference 242066 into the council’s planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter