 Planning ahead to secure vital infrastructure
Our vision for healthy, sustainable growth across Wokingham Borough is taking its next step towards becoming a reality.
We're moving forward with a new Local Plan, a strategy document which sets out how the borough should develop to meet everyone’s needs until 2040.
This includes accommodating the new homes we need to plan for, the type of housing and the places where it should or shouldn’t be allowed, as well as the accompanying amenities, education and employment opportunities.
As with our current Local Plan, our approach is centred on large-scale strategic development. This means we can continue to secure a wealth of high-quality infrastructure like schools, roads, public green spaces and more.
These would be funded or provided by developers, ensuring that new communities have everything they need to thrive without expense to the taxpayer.
 A positive vision for well-equipped communities
Following a Revised Growth Strategy consultation in late 2021 and early 2022, the new Local Plan still proposes allocating a major new community at Hall Farm, on land south of the M4 between Shinfield, Sindlesham and Arborfield.
The site, partly owned by the University of Reading, would be developed as Loddon Garden Village.
This settlement of 3,900 homes could have ample amenities like new primary and secondary schools, a large new country park along the River Loddon and a new bridge over the M4.
This was one of three possible locations for large-scale growth and was chosen for several reasons, including the opportunity to create sustainable transport links and its closeness to employment opportunities at sites like Thames Valley Science Park.
The plan also proposes additional growth at the borough's Arborfield Garrison and South Wokingham major developments, both of which are being developed through the existing Local Plan, and a range of additional smaller-scale growth elsewhere in the borough.
 Green space protection and climate measures
The new plan improves protection for treasured green spaces by designating more than 100 locally important sites as Local Green Spaces and 13 areas as “valued landscapes" of borough-wide significance.
It sets ambitious policies on affordable housing, which seek 40 per cent on the largest developments, up from the current 35 per cent, and proposes high environmental standards for all new buildings.
Both residential and commercial development will have to be zero-carbon where viable. Where it isn’t, developers will still have to show they have reduced carbon emissions as much as they can.
This will support the council’s plan to tackle the climate emergency and, by requiring more energy efficient housing, reduce residents’ living costs.
The new Local Plan also has measures to reduce the need for vehicle journeys and make it easier to travel actively by walking or cycling. This will improve air quality, reduce emissions and promote healthier lifestyles.
What's going to happen next
At a meeting tomorrow night (19 September), our full council will discuss submitting the new Local Plan for independent inspection. Once it passes inspection, we'll look to adopt it as soon as possible.
Before submitting for inspection, there'll be a final consultation inviting comments on the plan's legal compliance and soundness. The survey will be launched on our Engage Wokingham Borough platform at some point next week.
Did you know that our current Local Plan is set to deliver almost £1 billion in developer-funded infrastructure over the 2006 to 2026 period? Take a look at our special feature on what we've provided in that time.
Want all the latest Local Plan news?
We'll be sharing more in our next edition of Infrastructure News on Wednesday, 16 October, but more frequent and detailed updates will be shared in our twice-weekly Residents' Round-up newsletter.
Our Wokingham Borough Connect newsletters also cover a range of topics including Countryside, Rubbish & Recycling, Sport & Leisure, Traffic & Travel and much more - why not sign up?
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