A bid to build 19 homes on the former Ladds Garden Village in Hare Hatch is due to be decided tonight by Wokingham Borough Council's planning committee (Wednesday, May 20).
Westbourne Homes Ltd wants to demolish existing buildings on the 1.38-hectare Bath Road site and replace them with one- to four-bedroom houses, landscaping, drainage and a new access.
The site sits in the Green Belt but is classed as previously developed land, so redevelopment could be acceptable if openness is preserved.
Planning officers recommend approval, saying the scheme would cut building footprint by 36% and hardstanding by 62% even with a slight rise in overall volume.
It would deliver 19 mainly family homes and 54 parking spaces. There is no on-site affordable housing, but the developer would make a financial contribution and fund healthcare, green infrastructure and local employment measures.
The plan departs from the local plan, but the council cannot currently show a five-year housing land supply. Environmental gains include almost 30% biodiversity net gain and improved landscaping within the Floral Mile and Bowsey Hill valued landscape.
Technical consultees raised no objections, though public transport is limited and the scheme relies on cars. Wargrave Parish Council did not object but asked that no gates be fitted. If approved it would need a legal agreement and conditions on ecology, drainage, tree protection, archaeology and construction management.
Councillors must weigh the benefits of redeveloping brownfield land and boosting housing supply against Green Belt policy when they vote tonight.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
