High Court Rejects Controversial 70-Home Plan

A High Court judge has rejected a judicial review of plans to add 70 homes to a development on the edge of Reading.

The Emmer Green Drive scheme of 223 homes is being built on the former Reading Golf Course off Kidmore End Road in Caversham. Last year developers proposed 70 extra homes on land over the borough boundary in South Oxfordshire, taking the total to 293.

South Oxfordshire District Council rejected the 70-home scheme in December and an appeal was dismissed in June. The landowner Reading Golf Club and acquisitions firm Fairfax then appealed to the High Court, but the Honourable Sir Peter Lane has refused the review. The decision was announced on Thursday, 1 October.

The case was tracked from the start by the Keep Emmer Green campaign, which opposed the original 223-home plan when it emerged in 2020.

Celebrating the news on Facebook, a Keep Emmer Green campaigner said: "Best news ever from the High Court!

"The planning inspector's decision stands. It's a firm NO to Fairfax's request for a review of the decision.

"Sir Peter has declared all six grounds of objection as unarguable.

"The Inspector's consideration of the 'long history of public access to the former golf course was unarguably sound and rational.'

"We can finally celebrate!! Everyone said this was impossible, but the voices of local people have been heard!"

Although the extra homes would have fallen in South Oxfordshire, many of the traffic and service impacts were expected to be felt in Reading as an extension of Caversham.

Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central, said: "I am delighted that this ruling has turned down the appeal by developers who wanted to build in the green gap between Caversham and Emmer Green and Sonning Common.

"The development in the part of Reading Golf Course in Oxfordshire would have built on vital green space and increased traffic on local roads in Emmer Green.

"It could also have set a precedent for other development in Oxfordshire on the boundary with Reading."

Reading Borough councillors raised serious concerns about the 70-home application when it was discussed and asked developers for £150,000 towards road safety improvements at the Last Crumb junction if the plans had gone ahead.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter