Land Adjacent to Blagrove Lane, Wokingham , RG41 4AX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would accord with the spatial strategy in the development plan
• whether the proposed development would cause the coalescence of Wokingham and Barkham
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including on the surrounding landscape and Bottle Copse Local Wildlife Site
• the effect of the proposed development on the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area
• whether the proposed development would make adequate provision for affordable housing, the care home, on and off-site highway works, sustainable travel infrastructure, public open space and allotment facilities, local employment skills, and the NHS

What decided it

The severe five-year housing land supply shortfall (1.7 years) meant the most important development plan policies were out of date, and the substantial weight attached to the resulting market and affordable housing benefits outweighed the identified moderate/significant harms.

The moderate harm to the spatial strategy and character/appearance, the significant harm from coalescence and loss of green infrastructure, and the less than substantial (low end) heritage harm were outweighed by the substantial weight given to market and affordable housing delivery, the care home, economic benefits and biodiversity net gain, such that the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.