Plan for 200 homes on Berkshire farmland decision delayed

Croudace Homes was hoping to get its plan for a housing development at Bridge Farm in Twyford approved.

However, councillors chose to postpone their decision for more information on key issues.

One of the biggest was the concern over the impact the development could have on traffic in the area, particularly going to and from Twyford Station.

Councillor Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford) complained that he recently waited 25 minutes to get to the A4 Wargrave Road roundabout.

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Cllr Conway said: “My fear is there is an assumption that most residents living on the site who want to use Twyford Station will walk and cycle there, I think that might be overly optimistic.

“My belief is that many people living on the north of the site and on wet days will actually be driven to the station by other members of their family or household and be collected there in the evening.

“If that were the case it would generate four journeys through the already congested crossroads for every commuter driven to and from the station.”

Therefore cllr Conway asked that the decision be deferred so more detailed traffic projections could be undertaken.

Councillors also requested data on school place projections for the next five to 10 years, and asked for  more information on the pedestrian and cycle routes proposed, particularly those leading to Piggot School.

Additionally, councillors wanted answers from the developers on how they hope to manage a potential ‘access conflict’ between pedestrian and cyclists and vehicles coming to and from the Cedar Park Nursery.

An overhead view of what the 200 home plan in Twyford will look like once built. Credit: Croudace Homes / SP Broadway

Cllr Rebecca Margetts (Conservative, Finchampstead South) raised fears that the developers could  appeal to get the homes built without providing the information in a ‘worst case scenario’.

Connor Corrigan, a development management  officer for the council replied that there is a risk of appeal, as developers are allowed to appeal to the government planning inspectorate if a council fails to determine an application within an allocated timeframe.

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There was also discussion about the borough’s lack of a five-year land supply.

If a council cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply, developers are more likely to achieve planning permission in places which have not been allocated for development within an existing Local Plan.

Cllr Wayne Smith (Conservative, Hurst) said:  “We’re only seeing this because of the situation of our five-year land supply.

“It just seems to me that this borough is now being completely hammered for over-delivering housing since 2017 and now we’re getting the rough of it.”

READ MORE: The five year land supply rule that allows developers to build more homes explained 

Arguing for the scheme, Chris Roberts, an agent for Croudace Homes, stated the development would bring a number of benefits, including a new public park along the River Loddon, the planting of approximately 350 new trees and the provision of 80 (40 per cent) affordable homes.

Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to defer decision on the application at a meeting on Wednesday, December 14 2022.

You can view that application by typing reference 212720 into Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.