Plans to build 230 homes between Twyford and Charvil have been resoundingly rejected by councillors – despite the fact planning officers recommended they approve them.

David Wilson Homes wanted permission to build the new estate at Riverways Farm on New Bath Road. Wokingham Borough Council officers argued that national planning rules would mean the council would have to approve the scheme.

But councillors on the planning committee disagreed – arguing that the site was too inaccessible, and too far out of Twyford to be considered part of the village.

Planning consultant David Murray-Cox argued in favour of the plans on behalf of the developers. He said Twyford was a more suitable place than many other places in the borough that have seen greater housebuilding.

He told the committee: “Even before the Elizabeth Line opened Twyford was a sustainable place. But that is now reinforced with more frequent services available to a more diverse range of destinations.”

He said Twyford also had a range of schools, shops and supermarkets that made it a sustainable place to build new houses. He added: “The reality is that this site is significantly more accessible than the vast majority of growth that has occurred in Wokingham borough.”

Council planning officers recommended that the committee approve the development.

They said that planning rules mean that the council can only block new housing if the harms it would cause ‘significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.’

This is because the council currently doesn’t have a plan to provide new houses over the next five years, tilting the balance in favour of new developments in national planning policy.

But Stephen Conway – councillor for Twyford – argued that the harms did outweigh the benefits.

He said that the development would be physically separated from Twyford by the A4 Bath Road, making it effectively a ‘new settlement’ outside of the village.

He said this separation would make it harder for new residents to walk to facilities in Twyford and that they ‘would in practice get in their cars.’

Councillors on the committee agreed. Councillor Wayne Smith said: “You would not think that was in Twyford – you would think that was part of Wargrave or even Charvil.”

He added it had taken him 30 minutes to walk from the site to Twyford station when he visited it the previous Saturday.

The committee voted unanimously to reject the development on the basis that it would not be in a sustainable location, that residents would rely too much on motor vehicles, and that it would be separate from existing settlements.