Extensions

Back to Development Watch Home Page

Extensions

Introductory

Comments to WBC planning department

Admissible comments and relevant policies

Barkham Parish Council

Wokingham Borough Council Planning Committee

Introductory

Proposals for extensions, garage conversions and the like are outside the scope of Barkham Development Watch.

If you wish to comment on, or raise awareness about, a planning application (e.g.) for permission to build an extension, possible steps include:

● sending your comments to WBC planning department using the model format of letter (or email);

● sending your views to Barkham Parish Council by writing to (or emailing) the Clerk;

● alerting your neighbours (e.g. by a leaflet 'drop') and urging them to do the same;

● if you wish to escalate the issue to the Borough Council Planning Committee, writing to (or emailing) the members.

● Petitions are not a good idea as a petition counts as one objection irrespective of the number of signatories. Pro forma letters, while not ideal, are preferable.

Comments to WBC planning department

If you wish to make comments, it is essential to act swiftly because of the short time-frame for commenting on planning applications. In practice, the available time is somewhat less than the statutory 21 day consultation period.

It is a good idea to check the accuracy of all aspects of the planning application that has been submitted, and whether there are any material omissions or misstatements.

Plans should also be scrutinised to see whether the proposed extension may result in a loss of light through existing windows in neighbouring houses and for conformity with the Barkham Village Design Statement.

Admissible comments and relevant policies

The basic issue to be decided by WBC planning department is whether the proposed extension is in accordance with the statutory development plan for the area.

In the case of Wokingham district, the relevant policies are set out in:

- the Berkshire Structure Plan 2001-2016; and

- the Wokingham District Local Plan 2004.

In order to implement the structure plan, WBC has adopted a series of local plan policies:

1. WOS Overall Strategy

2. WCC, WLL and Countryside, Landscape and Nature

and WNC Conservation

3. WGB Metropolitan Green Belt

4. WBE and WHE Built Environment, Design and Heritage

5. WH Housing

6. WEM and WRE Economic Development and Employment

7. WSH Shopping and Town Centres

8. WR Recreation, Leisure and Tourism

9. WT Transport

10. WIC Infrastructure and Community Facilities

Appendix 8 Parking Standards

The local plan policies may be accessed on the below WBC web page:

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/environment/planning/localplan

In determining a planning application, WBC planning department will only take account of planning considerations. Any comments you may make will therefore carry more weight if you can show that the proposed extension would be contrary to one or more local plan policies.

To enable you to identify the local plan policies which are the most relevant, you may find it helpful:

(a) to look at the Design Guidelines in the Barkham Village Design Statement (pages 14 to 18), which cross-refer to relevant local plan policies; and

(b) to view the most relevant policies by visiting

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/environment/planning/localplan

Sometimes 'higher level' planning policies are also relevant. For more information and links, please see Overview of Planning System.

Helpful tips about responding to planning applications may also be found on the below Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Planning Help website:

http://www.planninghelp.org.uk/action/action-stop-or-improve-a-bad-development

Barkham Parish Council

Barkham Parish Council welcomes comments from residents, and will listen to anyone's views providing they give notice to the Clerk at least 24 hours in advance that they wish to speak on an issue.

Barkham Parish Council comments to WBC on all planning applications, and the Planning Committee normally meets at the Village Hall at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday in each month.

Sometimes the review of planning applications is deferred to the next full meeting of the Parish Council, which normally meets at the Village Hall at 8:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday in each month (August excepted).

If you wish to attend a meeting of the Parish Council, or the Planning Committee, to listen to discussion on, or to speak about, a particular planning application, please first check the date and time of the meeting with the Clerk.

The Clerk to the Parish Council may be contacted at judith@neuhofer.freeserve.co.uk

Wokingham Borough Council Planning Committee

District Councillors who are members of the Borough Council Planning Committee are listed on the below page on the WBC website:

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council-meetings-democracy/decision-making/committees-working-groups

Links

Wokingham Borough Council, Planning Services Division

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/environment/planning

South East Plan

http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/

Draft South East Plan Examination in Public

http://www.eipsoutheast.co.uk/home/

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)