Major plans to build a new housing development and care home in the borough have been given the green light following a site visit.
The construction of 130 new homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable housing, and a 68-bed care home designed specifically for dementia patients, are set to go ahead after the ‘Toutley East’ outline planning application was approved.
Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, Councillor David Hare, said the dementia care home is an “essential” resource that is needed “immediately”.
“The trend of people suffering from dementia and needing long term care will continue to increase, from 160 to 190 by 2025 and up to 265 by 2035,” he added.
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The application was deferred from last month’s committee so members could visit the site in person after concerns were raised regarding access and proximity to the A329M. It went through following a majority decision at Wednesday’s planning committee meeting after getting the necessary assurances.
Councillor for Barkham ward, John Kaiser, supported the development, highlighting the borough’s need for the housing mix outlined.
“We have a development by WBC, 85 per cent of which are one, two and three-bedroom houses. What a change.
“Andy what do they do with the profits? They invest [them] in a care home for the vulnerable people with dementia,” he added.
The executive member for housing, Stephen Conway, said it is important to “build the homes our residents need” and recognised that many families are in “desperate need” of affordable housing.
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The site, which lies adjacent to the Toutley Road industrial estate, is currently an open field used for agriculture, but objections were made regarding the potential impact of noise coming from the nearby dual carriageway.
Councillor for Embrook ward, Rachel Bishop-Firth, had “reservations” over the noise, which she claimed would be “excessively loud”, as 36 Embrook resident’s lodged objections against the application – with none in favour.
“Some residents will need triple glazed windows and won’t be able to open them because of the motorway,” she added.
Representative of Finchampstead South, Cllr David Cornish, didn’t’ agree as he emphasised that it is a “free market”, stating that potential buyers would notice the noise levels when viewing the houses and could “make their own decision”.
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However, he did highlight that this would not be the case for patients of the care home.
Councillor for Arborfield ward, Gary Cowen, agreed, saying he would be “ashamed” to have anything to do with an application if it “puts council’s considerations above the welfare of residents with dementia”.
But Cllr Hare added that it is a “great opportunity” to make sure residents have the “high quality and specialist care facilities” that will be needed moving forwards.
Work can now start on preparing detailed designs for the housing, which will be shared with the local community before submitting them to planning for approval.
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