‍Barkham Village

Residents Association

Proposed Development off School Road /
Changes to Planning Applications & Appeals

Proposed Housing Development off School Road

We reported in April on the application (250735) that had been made for 70 houses behind the Coombes School. This was a re-run of the earlier – refused – application for 95 houses on the site. The new application is now going to the WBC Planning Committee on the 9th July and, disappointingly, the Officers are recommending it for approval. See the attached WBC notification which gives details if you want to speak for or against the application. 

School Road Closure

After some delay we have had confirmation that WBC decided in May to make the School Road closure permanent 

Forthcoming changes to the rules regarding planning applications and appeals

One of our subscribers has drawn our attention to some important changes that are likely to be put in place later this year

He states –

I thought you might wish to know that new regulations will come into force by the end of the year which broaden the types of planning applications that can be dealt with under the written representations appeals procedure and will also alter the process itself, so that main and third-party representations (including those of statutory consultees) will no longer be permitted at appeal stage. 

This is a fundamental and significant change to the planning appeal process, and it will be important for third-parties to comment on proposals in as much detail as possible at application stage, should an appeal be anticipated in the case of refusal. The relevant links are below .

Incidentally, these proposals were initiated during the last gasp of the previous government and embraced by the current one under the 'growth' agenda. Further guidance is likely in the autumn.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a-faster-more-efficient-planning-appeals-process

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/upcoming-changes-to-written-representation-appeals/upcoming-changes-to-written-representation-appeals

Kind Regards
BVRA 

The BVRA needs additional volunteers. If you could spare a little time please contact us, chairman@barkham.org.uk for more details.

‍Please note all previous DevWatch alerts can be viewed on the BVRA website at https://barkham.org.uk/devwatch

WBC is an abbreviation for Wokingham Borough Council

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