Wokingham Call for Sites: Promoting Land for Future Homes
The Challenge
ET Planning were recently involved in promoting a range of residential development opportunities through Wokingham Borough Council’s Call for Sites process, supporting the preparation of the Local Plan 2045. This early stage of plan-making gives landowners and promoters the opportunity to put forward land for assessment and potential future allocation. The challenge involved presenting a clear case for the suitability, availability and achievability of each site, while addressing the site’s planning history, existing uses and planning considerations. Each site required a different approach to be used, with sites including both greenfield land and opportunities involving existing development, requiring different approaches to access, landscape character, trees and biodiversity. The role ET Planning had was to explain how each opportunity could contribute to the Borough’s housing needs and identify matters requiring further technical assessment. This information was executed through the provision of a Call for Site Form and a Cover Letter in certain cases.
Our Approach
A number of submissions were made to WBC confirming landownership, the proposed residential development and anticipated delivery trajectory. Submissions were tailored to each site’s setting and development potential. Each site was investigated thoroughly to highlight opportunities to make effective use of existing development and access arrangements where appropriate. Submissions presented the case for suitability, availability and achievability, drawing on site-specific information and previous land availability assessments where relevant. Rather than advancing fixed designs, we set out development opportunities for the Council to consider through its plan-making work, providing a basis for future assessment and longer-term site promotion.
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