®Planning appeal decision
Land at and to the Rear of 238 & 240 Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, RG40 3QD
Planning appeal 3352010 at Land at and to the Rear of 238 & 240 Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, RG40 3QD (Wokingham Borough Council) was dismissed on 21 February 2025 by Inspector Chalk M, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including whether the proposed landscaping would result in a development compatible with its woodland setting.
Application for the approval of reserved matters pursuant to outline planning consent 211889 for ‘the erection of up to 32 dwellings. All matters reserved other than means of access from the existing highway on Nine Mile Ride and associated infrastructure, landscaping and demolition of 2 existing dwellings’. Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale to be considered
- Authority
- Wokingham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Chalk M
- Postcode
- RG40 3QD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including whether the proposed landscaping would result in a development compatible with its woodland setting
- The effect on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers with particular regard to overlooking and outlook, and whether it would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers
What decided it
The unmitigable harm to the character and appearance of the area and to the living conditions (overlooking/loss of privacy) of the occupiers of Oak Manor, arising from the loss of boundary trees, determined the outcome.
The harm to character and appearance as seen from Oak Manor and the unacceptable harm to the living conditions of its occupiers outweighed the otherwise acceptable principle and detailed design of the development, resulting in conflict with the development plan as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP1Policy CP3Policy CC01Policy CC03Policy TB21Policy IRS6
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
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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.