Local Plan and planning policies

What is the Core Strategy?

Our Core Strategy sets out the key elements of our vision for the development of our borough until March 2026.  This includes policies and strategies to provide new housing, schools, roads, places to work and other services. 

Read the Core Strategy document

• Core Strategy (PDF document) 

• Core Strategy inspector's report (PDF document) 
   

Our Managing Development Delivery plan builds on our Core Strategy and includes more detailed policies for development of our borough.  It was adopted on 21 February 2014.

It sets out planning criteria that we use to determine applications for planning permission in the borough.

To find out more see our adopted document and inspector's report below.

• Managing Development Delivery 2014 Adopted Document (PDF document)
• Inspector's final report into the MDD (PDF document)

The Local Plan Update will refine the current Core Strategy from 2006 to 2026 and guide where and how growth will take place in the borough in the years up to 2038. 

Read more about the Local Plan Update

Neighbourhood Plans are the result of a community working together with us to decide how their local area should develop and grow in the future.

To find out more see our neighbourhood planning page.

Wokingham Borough, Bracknell Forest, Reading Borough and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead councils have produced a Joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan, which was adopted by the council on 19 January 2023. This will guide minerals and waste decision-making in the area. 

Take a look at the plan and supporting documents on our minerals and waste page.

In May 2010 the Government announced its intention to abolish Regional Strategies, including the South East Plan. In February 2013 the South East Plan was formally abolished except for Policy NRM6 which relates to new residential development close to  the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area. This policy remains in place as part of the Wokingham Borough development plan.

For further information see the following:

• South East Plan Policy - NRM6 (Natural Resource Management 6) (PDF document)
• Order - partial revocation of South East Plan (PDF document)

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) provide additional information to support policies contained in our key planning documents that make up the local plans. They are subject to consultation and influence planning decisions, such as the determination of planning applications.

Find out what current SPDs we have in place by visiting the designated Supplementary Planning advice page.

What is a Statement of Community Involvement?

A Statement of Community Involvement:

• Lets you know how you can get involved in planning
• Sets out how we will engage the wider community in planning
• Sets the level of community engagement we expect from developers
  
  

Existing Statement of Community Involvement

The Council adopted a new Statement of Community Involvement in March 2019 following consultation on a draft from November to December 2018.

To find out more, see the Statement of Community Involvement documents below.

• Statement of Community Involvement (PDF document)
• Statement of Consultation for the Statement of Community Involvement (PDF document)
• Adoption Statement (PDF document)

We have a duty to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in Wokingham Borough. Work previously done on a Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan has been incorporated into the Local Plan Update. 

Read more about this on the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan page.

What is an Article 4 Direction?

An Article 4 Direction is an area where the Local Planning Authority has revoked certain permitted development rights. Permitted development rights is the common name given to types of work that can be undertaken without needing to apply for planning permission. More information on permitted development rights can be found from our find out if you need planning permission page.

What Article 4 Directions are there in Wokingham Borough?

Details of the current confirmed Article 4 directions within Wokingham Borough can be found below:

• Article 4 Direction - Mill Lane, Sindlesham (PDF document)
  
• Article 4 Direction - Coombes Woodland (PDF document)   
• Article 4 Direction - Whistley Woodland (PDF document)       
• Article 4 Direction - Hennerton Backwater, West of Wargrave Road opposite Beech Tree Farm (PDF document)

Details of the current made Article 4 directions within Wokingham Borough can be found below: 

• Article 4 Direction - Land South Side of Coombes Lane, Barkham, Wokingham (PDF document)