Inspectors confirm Local Plan is on track for adoption

Wokingham Borough Council has welcomed confirmation from the independent planning inspectors that its Local Plan Update (LPU) is on track for approval.

The LPU will guide where and how development can and cannot take place in the borough, deliver affordable and social housing and increase environmental standards for new development. The LPU will also help to make sure infrastructure such as schools, roads, community and sporting facilities are built alongside new homes.

Following the completion of examination hearings earlier this summer, the inspectors have written to the council to confirm the plan is likely to be capable of being found sound and legally compliant, subject to some proposed modifications and a further round of public consultation.

Importantly, the inspectors have also confirmed that no additional housing allocations are required in the plan.

Council leader Cllr Stephen Conway said: “This is a significant and positive step towards adoption of a new local plan. The inspectors' letter gives us confidence that the plan is fundamentally sound, subject to the recommended modifications.

Ensuring growth is properly planned

"Having an up-to-date local plan is essential to ensuring growth is properly planned, infrastructure is delivered in the right places and we retain as much local control as possible over future development. It will give us protection against inappropriate development and will make sure 40% of homes on major developments are affordable homes.

“I am particularly pleased that the requirements in our draft plan for higher energy efficiency in new homes remains as does our identification of more than 100 new protected green spaces.”

The council will now prepare documents showing changes recommended by the inspectors before a public consultation is held later this year. The inspectors will then consider consultation responses before issuing their final report.

The inspectors’ letter is published on the local plan service website.