®Planning appeal decision
Woodside & Wayside House, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG2 9BE
Planning appeal 3298882 at Woodside & Wayside House, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG2 9BE (Wokingham Borough Council) was dismissed on 7 February 2023 by Inspector O'Connor H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including impact on trees.
the erection of a care home (C2 use class) comprising 68 bed spaces with associated parking following demolition of existing dwellings
- Authority
- Wokingham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- community-institutional · Major retail and services
- Inspector
- O'Connor H
- Postcode
- RG2 9BE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including impact on trees
- The living conditions of existing occupiers at Brambles and Barholm having regard to privacy, outlook and noise
- The living conditions of future residents of the proposal having regard to the provision of outdoor space
- Biodiversity
- If harm arises, whether this is outweighed by other material considerations
What decided it
The permanent harm to character and appearance and to the living conditions of existing residents significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of providing specialist care home accommodation, even when the tilted balance was applied.
The significant positive weight attributed to the provision of 68 bed specialist care home accommodation in an accessible location, economic benefits and employment, was outweighed by the full weight given to the permanent harm to character and appearance and the full weight given to the conflict with design and amenity policies, resulting in adverse impacts that significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CP1CP2CP3CC03CC06TB06TB09TB12TB21TB23
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 57Paragraph 62Paragraph 126Paragraph 130Paragraph 174
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.