Extensions

The Government policies which Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) and other local planning authorities are required to follow take the form of Planning Policy Statements (PPSs), which are gradually replacing Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs). These are available online at:

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1020432881271.html

In a local planning context, the most relevant Government policy statements are probably:

PPS1 Sustainable Development

PPS3 Housing

PPG13 Transport/Parking

Regional planning guidance 2001-2016

The regional framework for the preparation of local authority development plans in the South East up to 2016 is set out in RPG9. This document may be found at

http://www.go-se.gov.uk/497648/docs/171301/311174/RPG9March2001.pdf

Berkshire Structure Plan 2001-2016

The Berkshire Structure Plan 2001-2016 was adopted by the six Berkshire unitary authorities in July 2005. It is a strategic plan for land use and development across the county.

The Berkshire Structure Plan contains the following county-wide strategic policies

DP1-DP9 Structure Plan

EN1-EN8 Spatial Strategy and Development

H1-H8 Housing

E1-E4 Employment

S1-S4 Shopping and Leisure

T1-T6 Transport

M1-M5 Minerals

W1-W4 Waste

The Berkshire Structure Plan is the first downloadable document on the below website

http://www.berks-jspu.gov.uk/content/main.asp?pid=35&cid=1

Wokingham District Local Plan 2004

In order to implement the foregoing 'higher level' plans, WBC has adopted a series of local plan policies

1. WOS Overall Strategy

2. WCC, WLL 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

For the purposes of commenting on planning applications (or appeals), the local plan policies are likely to be more relevant than the 'higher level' policies.

Barkham Village Design Statement 2007

The Barkham Village Design Statement was adopted by WBC as a Supplementary Planning Document in July 2007. The Design Guidelines on pages 14 to 18 cross-refer to relevant local plan policies (and draft Core Strategy Policies - see below).

New planning system - South East Plan

Work on a new long-term regional spatial strategy for the South East is well underway, and is expected to be adopted by the Government in late 2008/early 2009. The plan will specify how many new houses are to be built by 2026 in Wokingham district and elsewhere in the South East.

Details of the draft South East Plan and the public consultation process may be found on the below website

http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/plan/view_plan.html

Local Development Framework 2006-2026

Guided by the requirements of the South East Plan, WBC is due to publish its long-term Local Development Framework during 2010. This will include a Core Strategy with Core Policies (which will replace the current structure plan and local plan policies).

The 27/07/2006 draft Core Strategy (including Core Policies) is the second downloadable document on the below WBC web page

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/environment/planning/ldf/core-strategy/270706-exec-papers

An index of the various documents which Wokingham Borough Council has produced in connection with the Local Development Framework 2006-2026 may be found in the box on the left-hand side of the below WBC web page:

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

Top of Page