 Vision for district centre with shops taking shape
Residents have been given their first detailed look at plans for a district centre with shops and other amenities in the borough's major new community at Arborfield.
Developer Crest Nicholson displayed provisional designs and sought people's views on them at a public exhibition in April, and says it will consider the feedback before it submits a planning application to us by the end of autumn.
The development, which would be located off Nine Mile Ride Extension near Bohunt secondary school and Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, is set to include a larger supermarket with a row of smaller shops and a "village square" for socialising.
There will be a community centre incorporating a nursery with an outdoor play area to accommodate 80 children plus a café, library, spaces for health treatments, worship and performances, and meeting rooms and offices for hire.
The proposal includes a pub with a garden overlooking the green space to the north, community allotments, new paths offering better cycling and walking routes to the surrounding area and a new access road to the leisure centre.
 More new amenities in the pipeline
Crest, which is required to provide the centre as a condition of the planning permission we granted for new housing in the area, is going to restore the former Infirmary Stables on the site and open them up to the community.
The usage will be decided based on people's comments and until then the building, which was once a hospital for Army horses and is now officially recognised as a historic monument, is protected from the elements to keep it in good condition.
By the end of the summer, Crest also aims to submit a planning application for a new pavilion (above) at Arborfield Green cricket ground, which would replace a similar, outdated building on the site off Tope Road. The proposal includes new cricket and football pitches and improvements on the recreation ground to the north.
We know you've been waiting a long time for the district centre and we've worked with Crest to make it happen as soon as possible. Crest has apologised for the delay in providing updates and says the project was held back by the coronavirus pandemic, which caused uncertainty among potential occupiers.
To enquire about leasing a shop unit, email community@arborfieldgreen.co.uk.
 New road update and other improvements
We're almost ready to open the southern half of Nine Mile Ride Extension at Arborfield, which will join the completed northern half to create a link through the development between Nine Mile Ride and the A327 Eversley Road roundabout.
A section of the southern half, a redirected section of Park Lane, opened a few months ago and the rest is almost complete with only minor works to finish. We'll let you know as soon as we have a date for this.
Meanwhile, we're working with Crest Nicholson to provide a permanent pedestrian crossing on Biggs Lane, near Farley Hill Primary School and the junction with Princess Marina Drive, within the next few months.
There's a temporary crossing there now but the developer is required to install a permanent one as a condition of its planning consent for new homes - and we know you want this to happen as soon as possible.
We're also about to start improving roads in Arborfield village and Arborfield Cross as the final milestone in our Observer Way relief road project, and this should be finished by the end of August with planting to follow in October.
The works include new gateways, build-outs and road markings to encourage slower speeds, speed limit reductions in various sections and a filter on School Road, where the limit will drop to 20mph, to restrict through traffic.
 Primary school expands catchment area
Farley Hill Primary School, which reopened in purpose-built new premises in September last year, is to expand its catchment area to include more of the borough's major new community at Arborfield.
For 2023/24, it will be open to applications from two additional areas: Sherman Avenue, Fox Close and Archer Grove; and Poperinghe Way and Highfield Park.
The school, which was funded by contributions from housing developers, is also increasing to two forms of entry for the new academic year this September.
As a result, all residents of the new community seeking reception places for their children have been offered one - as have those living in areas which were served by the school for many years before it moved.
The new community at Arborfield is also served by the Bohunt School Wokingham, a secondary academy which opened in September 2016.
Subject to planning permission and Government approval, we've approved its proposal to add a sixth-form of between 200 and 300 places which could also increase capacity for the younger age groups.
This would most likely happen in September next year and we'll keep you updated as this progresses.
 Fighting for fairer housing numbers
We've stepped up our campaign to change how housing is planned nationally - and to reduce the number of new homes which the Government is forcing us to take.
Our new leader Clive Jones is meeting local MPs to drum up support and ensure that your voice is heard at Westminster. He is also calling for a meeting with Michael Gove MP, who is responsible for the planning system as housing minister.
Wokingham MP Sir John Redwood has raised the matter in Parliament since meeting Cllr Jones - who has also met James Sunderland, Theresa May and Matt Rodda, respectively MPs for Bracknell, Maidenhead and Reading East.
Under the current formula, set by the Government, we've got to plan for 781 new homes per year. Cllr Jones says this is unreasonably high and puts undue pressure on both our infrastructure and the environment.
Since 2001, the number of households in Wokingham borough has increased by more than 20 per cent from 58,000 to 71,000.
 Nature park spotlight: Finchwood Park
This beautiful green space off Sheerlands Road was built in stages by developers building new homes in the area and we took it over when the work finished last year. The nearest postcode is RG40 4QY.
Finchwood Park lies on part of the former Hogwood Farm and has woodland planting with native trees, shrubs and hedgerows as well as wetland habitats and a wildlife pond with aquatic planting.
It has a 4km circular walk on flat, even footpaths surfaced with sustainable materials, making it easily accessible to all visitors, and also benefits from viewing points and seating areas.
Visitors will find information boards explaining the wildlife they're likely to spot - and history buffs will be intrigued to hear that it spans a section of the Devil's Highway, an old Roman road that connected London with Silchester in Hampshire via Staines.
We've also awarded planning permission for a second nature park of a similar size on land immediately to the north-east, which would create a continuous green space surrounding the former manor house at West Court.
The developer needs to submit further details before work can start and we're expecting to hear more from them later this year.
Image courtesy of the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership.
 A greener, healthier trip into Wokingham town
We're working on the latest of our greenways, which are mostly traffic-free routes to improve active travel around the borough, and this will link Wokingham town with Arborfield Cross when completed.
The first phase through Cantley Park in Wokingham town is already finished and contractors are making good progress with the next section, which crosses Woosehill Meadows and should be done in the next month or so.
Soon after that, work will start on resurfacing another stretch at Coombes Lane and Coles Lane. In April next year, the bridge at Coles Lane ford will be replaced to make crossing easier for pedestrians and people with impaired mobility.
The final section will run from Heron Road to Bearwood Road via the woodland at Fox Hill, with the final route to be decided following discussion with landowners.
We plan to create eight greenways over the next decade or so and we opened the first, running from Arborfield to Finchampstead via the California Way through California County Park, in 2020.
It's part of a much bigger drive to get people out of their cars and travelling actively where possible in order to reduce air pollution, do our part to tackle the climate emergency and help everyone live happier, healthier lives.
 Planning updates for the Arborfield community
We recently approved detailed plans for 43 new homes on a 1.3-hectare parcel of land between Sheerlands Road and Princess Marina Drive, with access off the latter.
These proposals were revised by Taylor Wimpey, the applicant, to include more public open space and other improvements following talks with our planning officers.
The scheme includes nine affordable units, or just over 20 per cent of the total, and will have secure cycle storage facilities to encourage active travel.
Development of this site was already agreed in principle as part of an earlier application for outline permission, while this one was to decide the finer details.
We're also expecting to make a decision soon on detailed plans for 158 homes on land at Hogwood, to the west of Park Lane at Arborfield, which we were seeking your views on until Thursday last week (23 June).
This would be accessed via the new Nine Mile Ride Extension and include public open space, a landscaped play area with a BMX cycling facility, and a sports hub and allotments to be funded by the developer.
Also in the pipeline are detailed plans for 73 homes on land off Biggs Lane, which already have outline consent.
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