Twyford 2,500 home plan in doubt due to Local Plan snub

Berkeley Group, a large scale development company, revealed a scheme to build a huge new community to the east of Twyford earlier this year.

The prospective development, called ‘Twyford Gardens’, would involve building 2,500 new homes, a new train station, bus station, school, and a health centre on fields in the village of Ruscombe.

But the scheme has been thrown into doubt as the land Berkeley is hoping to build on has not been allocated for development in the Wokingham Local Plan update.

READ MORE: Huge changes coming to Wokingham as sites selected for Local Plan update

A revised list of sites allocated for development were revealed on November 12.

The biggest news from the site allocation was the selection of a new major development location in the Loddon Valley, between Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield and Sindlesham.

Although parts of Twyford have been selected for housing, there has been no allocation for 2,500 homes to the east of the village as Berkeley had hoped.

However, the company appears to be committed to its Twyford Gardens proposals, and remains hopeful that the huge new community could be delivered.

Berkeley Group has also pointed out a housebuilding ‘imbalance’ with a majority of the sites allocated for housing in the Local Plan being located to the south of the M4.

READ MORE: Council accused of favouritism and unfairness as Twyford Library works stalled

A spokesperson for Berkeley said: “We welcome the opportunity to respond to the council’s Local Plan update consultation and the wider debate on the imbalance in growth and homebuilding between the north and south of the borough.

“Our proposals for a sustainable new neighbourhood to the east of Twyford, supported by new infrastructure and amenities, could help ease the development pressure in the south where all of the strategic development sites (including 4,500 homes now proposed in the Loddon Valley) are located, and where 95 per cent of all new homes have been built since 2007.”

A CGI of Berkeley Group's proposed Twyford Gardens development, which would have its own train station. Credit: Berkeley Group

The spokesperson continued: “Outline proposals for our site include a mix of private and affordable homes, alongside new business space and community amenities, including parks, a health centre, primary school and local shops.

“This new part of Twyford would include a new railway station and local bus interchange, a relief road to ease traffic congestion in the centre of Twyford and a network of green open spaces and wildlife corridors, including newly created woodland, wetlands, ponds, swales, hedgerows and tree belts.

“This biodiverse landscape, which is currently fenced off to the public, would be open to all, with green cycling and walking routes and a mix of parks, community gardens, allotments and playing fields.”

READ MORE: What is the Wokingham Local Plan update that could see thousands of homes built across the borough

There are only three areas that have been identified for residential development in Twyford, which can be found on the Wokingham Local Plan update interactive map here.

The biggest of these is located at Bridge Farm off New Bath Road, where an outline plan for up to 200 homes has been submitted (application 212720).

The Local Plan update document states that is is supportive of 180 homes on the site, provided that the development avoids high flood risk areas, has suitable access, and that noise impacts are considered coming from New Bath Road.

Land between 39-53 in New Road, Ruscombe has been allocated for 20 homes, and land to the rear of 9-17 Northbury Lane, Ruscombe has been identified as a location for 12 homes.

A public consultation on the Local Plan was begun today (Monday, November 22) and can be accessed via engage.wokingham.gov.uk.