®Planning appeal decision
Land off Watmore Lane, Winnersh, Winnersh
Planning appeal 3331651 at Land off Watmore Lane, Winnersh, Winnersh (Wokingham Borough Council) was allowed on 6 March 2024 by Inspector Chamberlain G, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the appeal site is an appropriate location for the proposed development with reference to 1) the spatial strategy for housing in the development plan; 2) permeability and integration with pedestrian and cycle routes; and 3) the accessibility of services and facilities.
Residential development for up to 234 units, with all matters reserved except access from Maidensfield
- Authority
- Wokingham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Chamberlain G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the appeal site is an appropriate location for the proposed development with reference to 1) the spatial strategy for housing in the development plan; 2) permeability and integration with pedestrian and cycle routes; and 3) the accessibility of services and facilities.
- The effect of the proposed development on the landscape character and visual amenity of the countryside
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular reference to 1) the settlement pattern and townscape; 2) the legibility of any local street hierarchy and 3) the usability and sense of place of Maidensfield.
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate a four-year housing land supply triggered the paragraph 11(d) tilted balance, and the Inspector concluded the moderate, collective harms did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant benefits of the scheme.
The significant benefits of housing delivery (including affordable housing), economic benefits, biodiversity net gain and open space provision were found not to be significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the moderate harms to the spatial strategy, landscape character and accessibility, so the balance tipped in favour of granting permission under the tilted balance.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CP17CP9CP11CC02CP1CP3CP6CP4CC03TB21CP5TB12TB08CC01
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 20Paragraph 60Paragraph 63Paragraph 77Paragraph 81Paragraph 85Paragraph 102Paragraph 109Paragraph 117Paragraph 135Paragraph 157Paragraph 158Paragraph 161Paragraph 173Paragraph 180
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 2024
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- Allowed26 January 20263374952Unit 10, Land at Headley Road East, Woodley, RG5 4SN
- Allowed26 November 20253363174178 Bearwood Road, Barkham, Wokingham, RG41 4SH
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.