Planning appeal decision
Twin Oaks Longwater Lane, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4NX
Planning appeal 3289909 at Twin Oaks Longwater Lane, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4NX (Wokingham Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 26 July 2023 by Inspector Freer P, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect, if any, of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
described on the application form as a caravan site for one traveller family: extension of permission APP/X0360/C/10/2125352 & APP/X0360/A/10/2120041 to increase site area and number of caravans. Summary
- Authority
- Wokingham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Freer P
- Postcode
- RG40 4NX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect, if any, of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- whether the proposed development would result in a net loss of biodiversity on the appeal site itself
What decided it
The proposed development's conflict with the development plan through harm to a valued landscape and net biodiversity loss was not outweighed by the appellants' personal circumstances, given that their needs could be met on the existing lawful caravan site.
the harm to the character and appearance of the valued landscape and the net loss of biodiversity, together with the availability of the lawful caravan site as a fallback, outweighed the appellants' personal circumstances and the benefits of enabling their children to remain on site, so planning permission was refused
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP1Policy CP3Policy CP7Policy CP11Policy CC01Policy CC02Policy TB10Policy TB21Policy TB23Policy H11Policy ADH6
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 174
- Judgments
- Burdle & Williams v SSE & New Forest DC [1972] 1 WLR 1207; Lisa Smith v SSLUHC [2022] EWCA 1391
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Wokingham Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Notice varied and upheld1 May 20263346384Old Billingbear Brickworks, Carters Hill, Binfield, Wokingham, RG40 5RS
- Notice varied and upheld4 March 20263358834Bluebell Farm, Commonfield Lane, Wokingham, RG40 4RP
- Planning permission granted16 January 20253342197Poppies Farm , Pound Lane , Hurst Wokingham , RG10 0RS
- Notice varied and upheld7 January 20253311592Land at New Acres, Nine Mile Road, Wokingham, RG40 3LZ
- Notice varied and upheld9 December 20243344473Brookfield Farm Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, RG40 3BU
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
®