New Neighbourhood Approved: 215 Homes for Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council has approved plans for 215 homes on land east of Wood's Farm, off Easthampstead Road, after an eight-month planning process.

Miller Homes will build a mix of houses and flats, including 75 classed as affordable housing to be provided through social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership. Documents say 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable and they will be managed by a registered housing provider.

The scheme is part of the South Wokingham project, which has permission for up to 1,434 new homes. The wider development is expected to provide around 2,500 homes alongside schools, roads, community facilities and public open space.

The application for fields known as R7 and R13 was received in January and planning permission was granted on 16 September. The site sits alongside the route of the new South Wokingham Distributor Road.

Plans were revised during consultation after council officers asked for changes to layout, landscaping, design, ecology and security. Officers also pushed for more informal play space; revised plans altered footpaths, landscaping and public open space, and developers said a landscaped drainage basin would offer recreational value in dry periods.

Wokingham Without Parish Council raised no objection but urged that community facilities are delivered early enough to support new residents. Council documents say the development accords with local planning policy and supports the town's southward expansion.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter