Neighbourhood planning

Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan Referendum

Following an independent examination and referendum, Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive has brought the Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan into legal force and therefore the Neighbourhood Plan becomes part of the Council’s Development Plan and will be given full weight in the determination of all planning applications within Shinfield Parish.

A copy of the Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan, appendices and decision statement can be found below:

• Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan (PDF document)
• Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan Appendices (PDF document)
• Decision statement making the plan (PDF document)

Previous stages of the Shinfield Neighbourhood Plan Process

Shinfield Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area in 2012.

As part of the Regulation 16 publication, a consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan took place between 4 April and 16 May 2016. A summary of the representations received can be found below

• Table of representations (PDF document)
  
  

Please note: The table of representations is a summary, so comments will not be verbatim. All the original representation documents were submitted to the independent Examiner for review, pursuant to paragraph 9 of Schedule 4B to the 1990 Act.

The Examiner’s final report concluded that the plan should proceed to referendum subject to the recommended changes being made. You can read the report below

• Examiners final report (PDF document) 
  
  

A referendum relating to the Shinfield Neighbourhood plan was held on Thursday 8 December 2016. People living in Shinfield Parish who are registered to vote in local elections were entitled to vote in the referendum, which was conducted following similar procedures to those used at local government elections.

The question asked in the referendum was

Do you want Wokingham Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Shinfield Parish to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

A total of 87 percent of people who voted in the referendum voted Yes to this question and so Wokingham Borough Council took steps to adopt the Neighbourhood Plan in the Council’s Executive meeting on 26 January 2017.

Additional documents

• Neighbourhood Area Application decision notice (PDF document)
• Shinfield Area Neighbourhood Plan application (PDF document)
• Shinfield Neighbourhood Area map (PDF document
• Shinfield neighbourhood Plan health check report (PDF document)
• Information statement for referendum (PDF document)
• Wokingham Borough Council Decision Statement to proceed to referendum (PDF document)

More details

See also the Shinfield Parish Council website.

Remenham Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area in July 2013.

Documents

• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)
• Remenham Parish Council Application (PDF document)
• Remenham Neighbourhood Area map (PDF document)

Arborfield and Barkham Draft Neighbourhood Plan Adoption

The Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan was 'made' (adopted) at Special Executive Council on 22 April 2020. The plan now forms part of the statutory development plan for the area and will be used to help determine planning applications within the parishes.  

A copy of the adopted plan along with the decision statement can be found below:

• Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan: Made Version (April 2020)(PDF document)
• Decision Statement making the plan (PDF document)    

When social distancing restrictions allow, hard copies of the plan and decision statement will be available for inspection from the Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WP between 9am and 5pm (Monday to Friday).

Previous progress on the Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan

Arborfield and Newland and Barkham Parishes were designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 31 July 2014, following the consultation period 17 April to 30 May 2014. The relevant documents can be viewed below:

• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)
• Arborfield and Newland and Barkham Parish Councils Neighbourhood Area application (PDF document)
• Arborfield and Barkham Parish Councils neighbourhood area map (PDF document)
• Arborfield and Barkham Area Designation Consultation Responses (2014) (PDF document)

The group submitted their proposed neighbourhood plan to Wokingham Borough Council in May 2019 and in line with legislation, a 6 week consultation (Regulation 16) was undertaken on the submission version of the plan between 8 July and 19 August 2019. The Regulation 16 documents can be viewed below:    

• Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan: Submission Version (May 2019)(PDF document)
• Basic Conditions Statement (PDF document)
• SEA/HRA Determination Statement (PDF document)
• Summary of representations - Reg 16 (July to August 2019) (PDF document)  

Following this consultation, the council appointed Liz Beth to undertake the examination of the plan. All comments received during the consultation period were sent to, and considered by, the Examiner whose role was to consider whether the plan met a set of prescribed 'basic conditions' and other legal requirements. Further information on the 'basic conditions' can be found in the National Planning Practice Guidance on the Gov.uk website. The Examiner concluded that, subject to a number of modifications, the plan met the basic conditions and should proceed to referendum.

• Read the Examiner's report: Arborfield and Barkham Examination Report October 2019 (PDF document)

The Council agreed to make the changes to the Plan and a referendum was held on 6 February 2020. The following question was asked:

'Do you want Wokingham Borough Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Arborfield and Newland and Barkham parishes to help it decide planning applications on the neighbourhood area?'

94 percent of voters on the day said 'Yes' to the question of the plan being used. The documents that were published in support of the referendum can be found below: 

• Information Statement (PDF document)
• Arborfield and Barkham Neighbourhood Plan: Referendum Version (December 2019)(PDF document)  
• Decision Statement (setting out that the local planning authority is satisfied the draft plan meets the basic conditions and complies with the provision made by or under sections 38A and 38B of the 2004 Act) (PDF document)
• General Information Statement (PDF document)

Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan Examination 

Ruscombe Parish Council submitted a draft neighbourhood plan in October 2021. The plan aims to manage development coming forward in the area to better reflect the wishes of the community and take greater account of what makes the area special to them.

In line with legislation, the draft plan was published for consultation in February and March 2022. Representations made were passed to an independent person to conduct an examination of the draft plan. The examination did not report. 

Withdrawal of the Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan  

Ruscombe Parish Council has taken the decision to withdraw the draft Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2036 and supporting documentation submitted in October 2021. 

A copy of the withdrawal statement and request letter are available to view below: 

• Ruscombe Neighbourhood Development Plan 2019-2036 - Withdrawal Statement by Wokingham Borough Council (PDF document)
  
• Letter to Wokingham Borough Council – Request to withdraw the Ruscombe Neighbourhood Plan (PDF document)

Ruscombe Parish Council is continuing with the process of preparing their neighbourhood plan and is expected to submit a revised plan in due course. It will then be published for consultation and examined in line with legislation.

Ruscombe Parish Council Neighbourhood Area Designation

Ruscombe Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 25 January 2018, following the consultation period 11 December 2017 to 12 January 2018. 

Read the documents

The relevant documents are found below.

• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)
• Application for designation of Ruscombe Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Ruscombe Neighbourhood Area Boundary Map (PDF document)
• Ruscombe Consultation Responses (PDF document)    
                        

St Nicholas Hurst Parish Area Designation

St Nicholas Hurst Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 10 April 2018 following the decision by the Council’s Executive on 29 March 2018. 

Read the documents

The relevant documents can be found below.

• Application for designation of St Nicholas Hurst Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• St Nicholas Hurst Neighbourhood Area Boundary Map (PDF document)       
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)

Twyford Neighbourhood Plan Examination 

Twyford Parish Council has been working on a neighbourhood plan for a number of years and submitted their proposed plan to Wokingham Borough Council in August 2022. The Plan aims to manage the development coming forward in the area to better reflect the wishes of the community and take greater account of what makes the area special to them. The Plan, if adopted, will be used to help determine all planning applications within Twyford Parish.

In line with legislation, a six-week consultation (Regulation 16) was undertaken from 12 October to 23 November 2022. The Council has appointed Andrew Ashcroft to undertake the examination of the plan. All comments received during the consultation will be sent to the Examiner who will consider whether the Plan meets a set of prescribed 'basic conditions' and other legal requirements. Further information on the 'Basic Conditions' can be found in the National Planning Practice Guidance.

The relevant Examination documents can be found below. This list may be updated periodically during the course of the Examination:  

• Twyford Neighbourhood Development Plan - Examination Arrangements December 2022 (PDF document)
• Twyford Neighbourhood Development Plan - Clarification Note January 2023 (PDF document)
• Twyford Parish Council response to Examiner's Clarification Note February 2023 (PDF document)
• Twyford Parish Council comments on Wokingham Borough Council Regulation 16 response (PDF document)
• Wokingham Borough Council response to Examiner's Clarification Note February 2023 (PDF document)

Copies of the submitted Twyford Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents can be viewed from the links below:

• Twyford Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan (PDF document)
• Basic Conditions Statement (PDF document)
• Consultation Statement (PDF document)
• Consultation Statement - Appendix A (PDF document)
• Consultation Statement - Appendix B (PDF document)
• Consultation Statement - Appendix C (PDF document)
• Consultation Statement - Appendix D (PDF document)
• Strategic Environmental Assessment / Habitats Regulation Assessment Determination Statement (PDF Document)
• Twyford Design Guidelines and Codes (PDF document)
• Twyford Housing Needs Assessment (PDF document)

Further documents supporting the plan can be found on the Twyford Neighbourhood Plan website. 

More information on next steps involved in the neighbourhood plan process can be found from the link at the top of this page.

Details of previous stages in the preparation of the plan is below.

Twyford Draft Neighbourhood Plan Consultation

Consultation on a full draft Twyford Neighbourhood Plan ran from 8 April 2022 until 20 May 2022.  This was the first formal consultation on the Plan in accordance with planning regulations.

Details of the consultation are available via the link in the section at the top of this tab.  

Twyford Parish Area Designation

Twyford Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 6 August 2018 following the decision by the Council’s Executive on 26 July 2018. 

Read the documents 

The relevant area designation documents can be found below:

• Application for designation of Twyford Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Twyford  Neighbourhood Area Boundary Map (PDF document)
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)

Wokingham Without Parish Area Designation

Wokingham Without Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 6 August 2018 following the decision by the Council’s Executive on 26 July 2018. 

Read the documents 

The relevant documents can be found below:

• Application for designation of Wokingham Without Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Wokingham Without Neighbourhood Area Boundary Map (PDF document)  
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)

Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan Examination

Finchampstead Parish Council has been working on a neighbourhood plan for a number of years and submitted their proposed Neighbourhood Plan to Wokingham Borough Council in August 2022.  The Plan aims to manage development coming forward in the area to better reflect the wishes of the community and take greater account of what makes the area special to them. The Plan, if adopted, will be used to help determine all planning applications within Finchampstead parish.

In line with legislation, a six-week consultation (Regulation 16) was undertaken on the submitted plan from 12 October to 23 November 2022.  The Council has appointed Andrew Ashcroft to undertake the examination of the plan. All comments received during the consultation will be sent to the Examiner who will consider whether the Plan meets a set of prescribed 'basic conditions' and other legal requirements. Further information on the 'Basic Conditions' can be found in the National Planning Practice Guidance. 

The relevant Examination documents can be found below.  This list may be updated periodically during the course of the Examination:

• Finchampstead Neighbourhood Development Plan - Examination Arrangements December 2022 (PDF document)
• Finchampstead Neighbourhood Development Plan - Clarification Note January 2023 (PDF document)
• Finchampstead Parish Council response to Examiner's Clarification Note February 2023 (PDF document)
• Wokingham Borough Council response to Examiner's Clarification Note February 2023 (PDF document)

Copies of the submitted Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents can be viewed from the links below:

• Finchampstead Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan (PDF document)
• Basic Conditions Statement (PDF document)
• Consultation Statement (PDF document)
• Consultation Summary Report - Regulation 14 Consultation (PDF document)
• Consultation Summary Report - Further Regulation 14 Consultation (PDF document)
• Strategic Environmental Assessment - Scoping Report (PDF document)
• Strategic Environmental Assessment - Environmental Report (PDF document)
• Habitats Regulation Assessment (PDF document)

Further documents supporting the Plan can be found on the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan website.

More information on next steps involved in the neighbourhood plan process can be found from the link at the top of this page.

Information on previous stages of the plan preparation is found below.

Finchampstead 'focused' Neighbourhood Plan Consultation

A further focused consultation took place between 18 October and 29 November 2021. The aim of this consultation was to seek views on a number of sites that are supported for development to deliver additional homes within the parish. 

Details of that consultation can be found at the neighbourhood plan website via the link in the section above. 

Finchampstead Draft Neighbourhood Plan Consultation

Consultation on a full draft Finchampstead Neighbourhood Plan ran from 1 February until 19 March 2021. This was the first formal consultation on the Plan in accordance with planning regulations. 

Details of the consultation are available via the link in the section at the top of this tab. 

Finchampstead Parish Area Designation

Finchampstead Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 12 March 2019. 

The relevant area designation documents can be found below:

• Application for designation of Finchampstead Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Finchampstead Neighbourhood Area Boundary Map (PDF document)  
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)

Sonning Parish Area Designation

Sonning Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 24 October 2019. 

Read the documents 

The relevant documents can be found below:

• Application for designation of Sonning Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Sonning Neighbourhood Area Boundary Map (PDF document)
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)

Charvil Parish Area Designation

Charvil Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 23 September 2020.

Read the documents

The relevant documents can be found below:

• Application for the designation of Charvil Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document) 

Swallowfield Parish Area Designation

Swallowfield Parish was designated as a Neighbourhood Area on 14 February 2023.

Read the documents

The relevant documents can be found below:

• Application for the designation of Swallowfield Parish as a Neighbourhood Area (PDF document)
• Neighbourhood Area Application Decision Notice (PDF document)