Question
A recent discussion with officials from the University of Reading made clear that the university is still very much focusing on the plan to build 4,500 houses at Hall Farm. At what point will Wokingham Borough Council make clear to the university that this plan is unacceptable to the Council?
Minutes:
Question:
A recent discussion with officials from the University of Reading made clear that the university is still very much focusing on the plan to build 4,500 houses at Hall Farm. At what point will Wokingham Borough Council make clear to the university that this plan is unacceptable to the Council?
Answer
As explained in answers to similar questions in May, June and July, our Administration is working with officers to look carefully at options for how we can best plan for our housing and development needs going forward in ways that ensure that our new local plan will pass as ‘sound’ at public examination.
I cannot pre-determine this process, however I can assure you that we are going into this process open minded, as we must, and that we will carefully consider all the views that have been expressed by residents alongside those of stakeholders and importantly, the technical evidence that must guide us to the best and most sustainable locations for new development to be located.
I would like to expand on the answer I gave at the Council meeting last week with reference to the new government requirement that flood resilience needs to be taken into account for the full duration of any proposed new development. This is particularly relevant for those proposed developments which include or are close to a major river and its flood plane and go beyond 15 years.
I will be actively pursuing this issue within the Council. I believe it will be difficult if not impossible to know the impacts of climate change could have on future water levels this far ahead. This could put into doubt the sustainability of such developments.
Supplementary question:
Before the coalition was formed, its members had made various public commitments during the election. One example, is the Liberal Democrat statement that they oppose Hall Farm on the grounds of flood risk to Lower Earley. So, I’m very pleased to hear that you are taking that seriously, a subsequent promise to me was in your supplementary answer on 30th June, that you would undertake the role strictly in line with Planning policy. Already, I am aware of an upcoming Planning application where no neighbourhood plan policies are supplied in the officers report despite objectors citing them and this is deeply disappointing, as not only did I raise the issue with the Council, but the Neighbourhood plan should carry more weight and I’m concerned that there is not enough scrutiny. Four months into the coalition, there is a lack of progress in applying polices and fulfilling promises. Is this a sign that voters are getting a raw deal from the coalition?
Supplementary answer:
The Neighbourhood plan needs to fit into the Local Plan and it’s a two way process. There are two neighbourhood plan’s coming through the process this evening, Twyford and Finchampstead.
In terms of the Aborfield and Barkham neighbourhood plan, I am not fully aware. I will be meeting with Barkham Parish soon and I would like to take up the issue when I see them.