Village's new homes application gets go-ahead

The homes can be built on land west of Trowes Lane and north of Charlton Lane in Swallowfield

A new 81-home development in a Berkshire village has got the go-ahead despite it conflicting with a council's planning policies.

Croudace Homes appealed after Wokingham Borough Council turned down the application for homes on land west of Trowes Lane and north of Charlton Lane in Swallowfield.

The developer appealed that decision and was given permission earlier this month.

Planning inspector Guy Davies said the project conflicts with a number of the authority's policies, but that its "adverse impacts" would not outweigh its "substantial benefits".

In his decision, which was published on 19 July, Mr Davies said the village had a “thriving social scene” but residents worried about how services could absorb additional demand.

While he said he understood frustrations, that was “essentially a matter for the relevant service provider to resolve”.

He said there had been a “real problem of affordability in the area”, which resulted in a “persistent unmet demand from those unable to afford housing on the open market”.

Of the planned homes, 40% will be classed as affordable.