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 21 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 to provide the strategy for the Borough from April 2013 to March 2036. Preparation of evidence to inform the document is underway.

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.

The current Minerals Plan for Berkshire is the Replacement Minerals Local Plan (RMLP) which was adopted in 1995. Alterations were subsequently adopted in 1997 and 2001.

The Waste Local Plan (WLP) for Berkshire was adopted in December 1998.

A number of policies in the Minerals and the Waste Local Plans are saved until they are replaced by national or local minerals and waste policies. 

Each unitary authority in Berkshire is now responsible for minerals and waste planning in its own area.

The Plans, Directions for Saved Policies from the Secretary of State and 2010's Annual Monitoring Reports can be found on the minerals and waste page.

Planning decisions are taken in line with minerals and waste policies unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

To find out more see 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. We are currently preparing a Local Plan Update to 2036. As many of the processes to be followed to produce both the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan and Local Plan Update are similar, these can be combined.

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?

In Wokingham Borough there are two Article 4 directions in place. The first relates to land at Coombes Woodland, Coombes Lane, Barkham, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 5SU and came into force on 23 January 2019.

The second relates to land south of Whistley Bridge, Whistley, Mill Lane, Hurst RG10 and north of Public Footpath 30. This came into force on 19 March 2020 for a 6 month period.

Details of the Article 4 directions can be found below:

• Coombes Woodland (PDF document)  
• Whistley (PDF document)