Historic Wokingham Pub and Farm Plans Approved

A historic pub in central Wokingham, a guest house in Priestwood and a country farm in Finchampstead feature in this week's planning round-up.

Admirals Inn Guest House, 27 Stoney Road, Priestwood (Bracknell 25/00198/FUL)

Permission was granted to Mr Barry Levey to site a mobile home in the guest house grounds to provide staff accommodation. The approval ties the unit to the operation of the guest house so it cannot be used as an independent dwelling.

The scheme includes demolishing an existing outbuilding and adding a cycle shelter. Conditions require work to follow the approved plans and to start within three years, with cycle parking installed before the mobile home is occupied and retained afterwards.

Because of protected trees, any crown lifting for access must be minimal, done once and by a qualified tree contractor. Ecological measures must follow the submitted appraisal and a biodiversity enhancement scheme must be agreed and implemented. The development may also need a Biodiversity Gain Plan before work starts.

Broad Street Tavern, 29 Broad Street (Wokingham 260875)

Wadworth Brewery has listed building consent to refurbish the Broad Street Tavern. Works focus on the ground floor: a new bar layout, removal of a central pillar or short section of wall to open the bar, a low wall to enclose the front room, screening to the food lift, refurbished toilets and new fixed seating in the rear extension.

The Grade II building - a former 16th-century house rebuilt in the 18th century and a pub since the mid-1990s - was considered by heritage officers to be largely affected in modern areas, with the changes minor, reversible in key spots and unlikely to harm the building's special interest or the conservation area.

Warren Crest Farm, Wick Hill Lane, Finchampstead (Wokingham 251233)

Permission was granted to replace a 1970s dwelling, garage and outbuildings with a substantial detached replacement farmhouse designed as a cluster of barn-style forms, plus a two-bed "gatekeeper's cottage" and a garage with a one-bed flat above, instead of previously approved barn conversions.

The residential footprint would be approx. 773 m2, around 100 m2 less than earlier consented schemes, with built form consolidated within the established curtilage. The design uses red brick, timber cladding and clay tiles, and includes extensive landscaping, biodiversity net gain planting and retention of most mature trees.

Ecology, arboricultural and drainage reports found no significant ecological harm or flood risk. The site is bordered by agricultural land owned by the applicant, and some wider land, including part of an ancient woodland, lies outside the application red line. Landscaping limits formal planting and lawns to areas adjacent to the house, with informal gardens and a wildflower meadow across the rest of the site.

Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter