The Arborfield SDL is part of Wokingham Borough Council’s plans to increase housing in the Borough area in accordance with national strategy to increase housing in southern England. The link to the WBC Strategic Development Locations is here: WBC SDL Page
Here is the Arborfield Consultation Draft for you to download as a pdf.
Sheerlands Road/Tyler Drive detail - Click to enlarge
Area B for Development - Click to enlarge
Our local councillor, and also the member of the WBC Executive with particular responsibility for Local and Regional Planning, Gary Cowan is quoted in the core strategy inspector’s report as saying:
The council is committed to protecting Wokingham Borough and our residents’ quality of life and, whilst we have to accommodate this housing, our Core Strategy will ensure that it is done in the best possible way. It will give us the right type of housing in the right places, with the right infrastructure – roads, schools, health centres and community facilities that are fit for the 21st century – paid for in large part by the developers themselves.
So why is WBC proposing to start developing the Arborfield SDL on greenfield sites, BEFORE we know whether the MoD land will become available for purchase and redevelopment? A development which, if the MoD land does not become available, will leave the area with extensive in-fill building, increased traffic and decreased safety, and no supportive infrastructure such as schools and community facilities to meet the demands of the increased population?