Plan to build nine homes in countryside

NINE new homes could be built on countryside land in Charvil.

Edward Mather, from Reading, has applied for planning permission to build the homes on land at the rear of Oak Tree, Waingels Road.

He claims the houses would be a “logical infill” of other housing developments.

Plans say the homes could be built within “designated countryside”, close to Waingels Road, Park Lane and Denmark Avenue and the playing fields by Waingels School.

The land, which is 0.99 hectares, is currently enclosed by hedging and fencing.

Residents would gain entry to the site from an existing access point in the sites’ northern boundary.

The consultant for the homes, Woolf Bond Planning, has argued that although Charvil has been identified as countryside by planning officials, it is surrounded by other housing developments and so should not be seen as an “urban extension”.

The planning application submitted to Wokingham Borough Council, the planning authority, argued the new homes would be “well-located” for public transport and to travel on foot.

The nearest bus stop is located on Tippings Lane, about  a 10-minute walk from the site. This provides links to Reading, Reading train station, Winnersh Triangle train station and Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The plans say that because of this, there is a “realistic prospect” that modes of travel, other than the private car, will be used by future residents.

A planning statement by Woolf Bond Planning said: “Council mapping confirms that there are no statutorily or locally listed buildings on or near the application site. Furthermore, the site is not within a conservation area.”

The consultation period for the plans ended yesterday (Thursday) and Charvil Parish Council recommended it was refused at its meetiung on Monday.

The borough council will make a final decision in due course.