Planning update
This page covers major planning initiatives that affect our parish.
For help on planning issues you can contact Peter Hughes, the chair of the Planning and Highways Committee.
The Local Development Framework and the Core Strategy
As part of its Local Development Framework (LDF), which provides a structure and methodology for large-scale district planning, Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) produced a Core Strategy detailing how they would fufll the requirement emanating from the previous Labour government for 12,460 houses and accompanying infrastructure to be built in the borough in the period to 2026. This document was approved by the borough council in January 2010.
The Core Strategy states that development will be mainly concentrated (10,000 houses) in four Strategic Development Locations or SDLs. One of these, the South of the M4 SDL, encompasses much of our parish - Shinfield village, Spencers Wood, Three Mile Cross and Ryeish Green.
The final draft of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that describes the preferred option for how the development will take place was issued for consultation during a six-week period which ended on 23 March 2010.
To view the document and find out more go to Wokingham Borough Council's website.
After three iterations and a legal challenge from a group of six southern parishes (including Shinfield) , which was settled out of court, the borough council adopted the Supplementary Planning Document for the South of the M4 SDL and the SPDs for the other SDLs in the autumn 2011. The adopted version reflected many of the comments submitted by local residents on the earlier drafts.
Three major planning applications
In July 2010 the University of Reading submitted three major planning applications for development in Shinfield:
| F/2010/1428 | Full application | Eastern Relief Road to bypass Shinfield Village |
| O/2010/1432 | Outline application | Residential development consisting of 1350 dwellings and associated infrastructure (school, foodstore, community centre,etc) all to the south west of the village |
| F/2010/1434 | Full application | Set up of a SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) in an area to the east of Shinfield and south of the Arborfield Road bordering the River Loddon |
The university submitted these plans despite the fact that the master planning documents for the SDL were not adopted at the time.
The Parish Council has responded to all three applications. You can view our responses here.
The university lodged appeals with the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-resolution by WBC. The Public Inquiry took place from 11 October to 16th November at Bulmershe College in Woodley. The Parish Council spoke against the plans. Shinfield Parish Council has produced a report on the Public Inquiry, which is available for download here
At its May meeting, WBC's Planning Committee passed the SANG application, which had been brought before the committee because the Manor site application depends on the SANG. This was in spite of the fact that the application was still under appeal.
The Secretary of State for Communities has decided in favour of the University of Reading.
Cutbush Lane application
In February 2013 the University of Reading submitted a planning application for up to 126 dwellings, public open space, children's play areas, accesses to Cutbush Lane and the Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, landscaping,ecological buffer zone, ground modelling, sustainable drainage systems and associated infrastructure. You can view the plans at Shinfield Parish Hall between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm Monday to Friday and at other times by arrangement, or online on WBC's website. The reference number is O/2013/0101 and the closing date for comments is 19 March 2013.
Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross applications
In February 2013 the Development Consortium submited two planning applications: 1) 0/2013/0346 Outline application for up to 900 dwellings, a two-form entry primary school, public open space access and landscaping on land between Church Lane, Hyde End Lane and Hyde End Road, Spencers Wood. 2) F/2013/0347 Full planning permission for 276 dwellings on land south of Croft Road. You can view the plans at Shinfield Parish Hall between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm Monday to Friday and at other times by arrangement, or online on WBC's website. The closing date for comments is 16 April 2013.
Manor site planning application
Early in February 2011 the University of Reading submitted another major planning application (number O/2011/0204) for development on the Manor site (previously used for agricultural research) in Shinfield. The area is bordered by Brookers Hill, Hollow Lane and Church Lane. The proposal is a residential development comprising up to 126 dwellings, a sports pavilion, public open space, landscaping and associated works and demolition of existing vacant buildings. The deadline for comments is 1 March 2011.
The Parish Council's response is available on the Planning and Highways Committee minutes page (click 2011 under Archive, then Associated Documents for the meeting on 18 February 2011).
This application was brought before WBC's Planning Committee in May 2012. The committee refused the application, on the grounds that 126 dwellings was too many for the site, which is classed as a modest development location. The University appealed and the planning inspector decided in favour of the university.
The Science Park
The University of Reading has submitted an application to WBC for a Science Park to be built on land to the north of Cutbush Lane. WBC have approved the whole scheme in outline, with the associated access arrangements approved in full. The decision has been endorsed by the Government Office for the South East (GOSE). For more information see the Science Park Consultation website.
Meetings with developers
On Monday 4 February a public meeting took place in Three Mile Cross to allow local residents to raise issues and concerns to do with the new development in Three Mile Cross. Representatives of the developers, borough councillors and parish councilllors were present. The meeting was lively with a great many issues being raised, and all recognised the value of such meetings both for the resolution of issues and the sharing of local information. As further developments start within the parish, the parish council expects that such meetings will become a regular feature. The action log from this meeting is available here.
WBC's Planning Committee dates
Here is a list of dates on which WBC's Planning Committee will meet in 2013-14. Residents may have a three-minute slot at the beginning of the meeting in which to voice their views. Meetings start at 7.00 pm. For further information on planning see WBC's website pages on planning.
| 25 April | 3 October |
| 30 May | 17 October |
| 27 June | 14 November |
| 25 July | 12 December |
| 22 August | 9 January |
| 19 September | 6 February |
