Hundreds of new homes have been proposed on land at Keephatch Beech and Matthewsgreen Farm, in Wokingham, as part of the borough council’s target of building 13,000 new homes. The two developments both outline plans to help build the Northern Distributor Road to access the sites – the road aims to relieve pressure on the town centre.

The town council, as well as Wokingham Without Parish Council, objects to the proposal to build a 300-home development on Keephatch Beech land as it had been allocated as green space in the town’s strategic development locations (SDLs).

The town council has urged the borough to reject the application and said: “The whole point of the strategic plan was to plan and designate where housing can be built.

“We therefore urge Wokingham Borough Council to enforce this and reject the application, otherwise we see no point in having a strategic plan in the first place.” One resident and keen campaigner against the over-development of Wokingham, Paddy Haycocks, says the Keephatch Beech development will affect a wide range of people. “First of all the extent that these plans have been communicated has been appalling,” he said.

“The fact is the impact of the Keephatch Beech development is going to be massive. Anyone coming in or out of the area will be affected.

“In my view it’s not good enough to say that this development will only affect a small number of people and only send letters to those people rather than the wider community.” Planning officers have recommended the plans be approved at the meeting of the planning committee tonight.

The plans would secure extra funding for the building of the suggested distribution road and also see work to the new road completed earlier.

The planning report states: “The development would provide a key piece of infrastructure which has been identified as being required by the council early on and at no cost to the council, allowing resources to be used elsewhere.” Mr Haycocks, a member of the Froghall Drive Residents Association, said he was ‘resigned’ to the fact the plans could be pushed through.

“I think it’s a foregone conclusion, and we feel very aggrieved by that.

“It would revive my faith in humanity if it was refused, but I don’t think it will be and I’m resigned to that.

“It’s an insult to the people of Wokingham and an insult to democracy.” The second proposal, also recommended for approval, would see 760 houses built on land at Matthewsgreen Farm, in Matthewsgreen Road, including 60 assisted living homes for elderly people, a primary school and local community centre.

The site was originally ear-marked for 810 units and the development has received 94 responses raising concerns although it was designated as a potential site for new homes in the borough’s core strategic plan in 2010.