Why I voted for the Local Plan

From Adrian Betteridge, Cllr Barkham and Arborfield

Why I voted for the new Local Plan

The Local Plan for future housing is sure to feature elsewhere in this newsletter, following its recent approval by Wokingham Borough Council.  Our area has seen a lot of new housing, including much-needed affordable housing, and has attracted families and others into our area, and we are better for this.  However, it isn’t without consequence for those already living here, and this looks set to continue, most significantly around the planned Loddon Garden Village.

The government requires Wokingham Borough to plan for around 750 new houses a year.  I looked hard at why so much of the new development is in our area, including the 2018 consultations and analysis of sites proposed by landowners, the council’s justification of a broadly similar plan in 2021, and the latest analysis of the sustainability of different options.  I concluded that the selection of sites is justified.  Others may disagree, but in doing so they will need to propose and justify viable alternatives.  I hope, however, that they will not dispute the policy improvements in this plan for the environment.

There is also the question of timing.  The government wants to add a further 560 houses a year to our existing target which, had we rejected this plan, would take effect in the new year.  Without time to plan for the larger number, we would be open to developers seeking to build wherever they can find land, most likely with a lack of infrastructure and with few counter arguments having declined to agree our own plan.

Few people think that the housing target for Wokingham is right, but that battle has been fought by successive councils and lost.  Assuming this plan passes the next hurdle, my focus will be on ensuring that development is accommodating to existing residents and sustainable for all.  This means having the right roads, buses and cycleways, schools, NHS primary care, utilities and more, planned and built in the right places at the right time.  

You can watch my speech in the debate on the local plan at https://tinyurl.com/ajblocalplan and please let me know what you think at adrian.betteridge@wokingham.gov.uk.