A new public woodland in Woosehill and a residential living site are among the planning applications that have been approved in Wokingham this week.

The borough council planning committee met yesterday (Wednesday, June 9).

It was the first meeting held under new chairman Councillor Chris Bowring (Conservative), with Cllr Angus Ross (CON) serving as vice chair.

Cllr Gary Cowan attended the meeting virtually, and was unable to vote, as all council decisions must take place in the council chamber.

All of the applications sent to the committee were approved. You can view coverage from the meeting in the Twitter thread below:

You can see all the plans by typing the number reference in brackets into Wokingham council’s planning portal at: https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/welcome.asp .

Woodland opened up to public use in Woosehill (203539)

Bracknell News: Land off Bearwood Road in Woosehill, Wokingham, which will be converted for public use. Credit: Barton WilmoreLand off Bearwood Road in Woosehill, Wokingham, which will be converted for public use. Credit: Barton Wilmore

The woodlands between Bearwood Road and the Woosehill estate will be opened up to the public after developers successfully applied to convert it into public land.

The woodland is currently privately owned, yet the owners allow members of the public to use it for walking, cycling and horseriders.

The developers applied to officially open up the land in order to create “informal recreational land” including improved pathways through the woods, with a 18 space car park off Bearwood Road.

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However, the improvements mean cyclists and horseriders may no longer use the woods. The plan states the site it not intended to be used by cyclists due to the potential for conflict between cyclists and pedestrians – bike parking facilities will be added to the car park, but cyclists would have to dismount at this point. There was also no particular provisions for horseriders who currently use the land within the plan.

The plan was approved on the condition that a maintenance plan be submitted, there be consultation with neighbours on the proposed footpaths running through the site, and the gates to access the woodland must be widened to allow  access for motorised wheelchairs.

New retirement home near Wokingham train station (202065)

Bracknell News: What the McCarthy & Stone residential apartments will look like once finished in Wokingham. Credit: Ascot Design LtdWhat the McCarthy & Stone residential apartments will look like once finished in Wokingham. Credit: Ascot Design Ltd

A new retirement home near Wokingham train station will be built by residential developers McCarthy & Stone.

There was a debate over the supposed lack of car parking spaces. The plan contains 32 car parking spaces for the 34 room retirement complex.

Cllr Bill Soane (CON) argued that many of the retirees will drive, and some couples may have two cars. Cllr Soane He said it would be “impossible” for visitors to park safely along the busy Reading Road.

Cllr Andrew Mickleburgh (Liberal Democrat) added that the plans did not consider that the retirees would have visitors.

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However, planning officers argued that the retirement home is within a ‘transport hub’ easily accessible by bus and trains. Cllr Ross pointed out that the McCarthy & Stone Queensgate home in Wellington Road had been approved in 2014 with less parking spaces than apartments. He said: “In November 2014, this committee approved a McCarthy & Stone applied for a retirement home in Wellington Road, the opposite side of the trainline. It was 32 apartments, with 27 parking spaces, and I don’t believe there has been a problem.”

Of the 34 apartments,  16 will be one-bedroom and 18 will be two-bedroom apartments.

The plan requires the demolition of three homes: 54, 56 and 58 Reading Road to make way for the three-storey retirement complex.

Approval of new bin store for Frog Hall in Wokingham (203460)

Bracknell News: Frog Hall in Frog Hall Drive, Wokingham. Now serves as a 11 flats. Credit: Wokingham planning application 203460Frog Hall in Frog Hall Drive, Wokingham. Now serves as a 11 flats. Credit: Wokingham planning application 203460

The committee retrospectively approved a new bin store at Frog Hall in Wokingham.

Frog Hall is a converted home which now serves as 11 separate flats. The applicants have built a new bin store closer to the road at Frog Hall Drive.

Neighbours complained about the prematurely built bin store; David Rowland argued that the bin store should be built in the shade to avoid the rubbish smelling and having an impact on other residents. Accessibility for the fire service was also raised as a concern.

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The applicants were unaware they had to receive planning consent for the bin stores. Carole Allam, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said: “As soon as we realised we needed planning permission, we applied for it. We didn’t realise we needed planning permission, we thought we could do it with permitted development, that was our mistake.

Our management company asked the council whether they had any objections, they didn’t, but we still didn’t realise we needed planning permission, for that we apologise.

The retrospective application was granted with two members of the committee abstaining.

New building with library and classrooms for independent school in Hurst (210805)

Bracknell News: The new library building design for The Dolphin independent preparatory school in Hurst. Credit: Trace ArchitectsThe new library building design for The Dolphin independent preparatory school in Hurst. Credit: Trace Architects

The Dolphin School in Hurst will build a new library and classrooms after it was given planning consent.

Cllr Stephen Conway (Lib Dem) called the design “very impressive” but expressed regret that the facility will not be for the use of “the community at large.” That is because Dolphin School is an independent preparatory school for children aged 3-13.

It was agreed that there was acceptable screening for Hinton House, a Grade II listed building.

Loft conversion to create new bedroom in Earley (210448)

The owners of 57 Chiltern Crescent in Earley successfully applied to build a new ensuite bedroom by converting the loft of the house.

The plan was not without protest. Tim Marsh, a neighbour said: “These huge dormers are popping up everywhere. They’re loved by absentee landlords but disliked by residents who actually live in the area, because they’re ugly, they distort the roof profile, and cause overlooking at the rear of the property.”

When it came to the vote, only Cllr Carl Doran (Labour) voted against the plan. Cllr Mickleburgh disqualified himself from voting as he had a declared interest in the plan as an Earley Town Councillor.

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New outdoor gym, theatre and improvements at Microsoft Campus in Thames Valley Park (210378)

Here, the applicants successfully applied to create an enhanced outdoor area outside buildings 4 and 5 of the Microsoft Campus at Thames Valley Park in Earley.

The plans were unanimously approved, meaning a new outdoor gym and theatre area can be made, along with other improvements.

An extra 41 car parking spaces will be created, bringing the site total to 587.