Wokingham Case Study

The Wokingham site was identified by Sustainable Land in 2004 as a potential investment. Although the site was in the Green Belt, where current local authority guidance restricted planning permission, recent housing schemes in the area suggested the site may have long term housing potential. A series of detailed strategic planning appraisals were carried out, identifying the sites current and future potential, ranging from access, contamination, plan policy designations through to ecological restrictions.

Although certainty cannot be guaranteed, the detailed planning appraisals and discussions with the local authority lead to Sustainable Land purchasing the site in 2005. The key process, from identifying the site through to purchase, in all Sustainable Lands’ sites is the robust planning appraisals that are carried out in order to determine the sites potential. The process ensures land acquisitions are as robust as possible.

Following purchase of the Wokingham site the complex process of promoting the land from its current designation (greenbelt) to a housing allocation begins. Local Authorities have a set procedure which identifies land for housing, under the current planning system the process occurs through a Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD). The site allocations document seeks to identify sufficient land to accommodate the projected housing requirements set by central government for the area for the current plan period (2010 – 2026). The Wokingham site allocations DPD process is outlined in figure 1.1, the various stages of consultation and representations outline the year process for adopting new policies to allow development to occur to deliver the housing requirements.

The process is particularly key to achieving a change of use for sites that are within the Green Belt. The process allows sites that are currently not suitable for housing under the current planning policy designations to be promoted for a change of use, which outside this process is very unlikely to happen for large sites.

The Wokingham site has been promoted at each stage of the Site Allocation DPD consultations, where detailed planning appraisals, negotiations, public consultations and written submissions have taken place over the last 4 years.

The site allocations DPD has lead to a number of Strategic Development Areas (SDA) being identified within Wokingham to accommodate the housing requirement for the Borough. The SDA’s have been approved by the planning inspectorate, and adopted within the Wokingham Core Strategy which sets the planning framework for Wokingham until 2026.

Sustainable Lands Wokingham site is situated within one of the SDA’s and has been zoned for housing. The site is within the North SDA which will deliver 1500 homes during the plan period.

Positive negotiations with the local authority are currently on going, with JPC finalising a master plan for the site to bring the site forward for development as soon as possible.

The lengthy process, from identification, purchase and promotion has lead to a site that would normally be unsuitable for residential development being re allocated for housing. Numerous sites in the surrounding area have been subject to the same process but have not been re- designated. Sustainable Lands firm principles which rely heavily on background research and robust planning advice throughout the outlined process have ensured the sites delivery for housing.

North Wokingham Strategic Development Area


Site Allocations Development Plan Document Process