Plans for a dozen “luxury” mobile caravans on land believed to be owned by Reading FC captain Liam Moore have been rejected.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC), which has already approved an application for six homes at the site in Riseley, refused to allow a further six, saying it would transform the site into a semi-urban area.

Planning officers said the plans, previously revealed by the Chronicle, would “completely alter the landscape character of the site from open field to a semi-urban area”, resulting in a “distinctively different character and intensity of development”.

This would make it “stand out as alien to the general character and landscape of the area”.

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They concluded it would result in a material change in the character and use of the land compared to the currently allowed six caravans and would therefore require planning permission.

Walnut Tree Farm, on Part Lane in Riseley, is owned by Reading FC footballer Liam Moore and his wife Roxi Moore, according to the Land Registry, but the applicant is Johnathan Harvey, who is reportedly Mr Moore’s father-in-law.

Mr Harvey applied for a ‘lawful development certificate for a proposed stationing of six additional caravans for residential purposes’.

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The application received 118 comments from worried neighbours objecting to the proposal on various grounds including:

  • Changes to the character and use of the land
  • Impact on the local road network and highway safety issues
  • Flooding issues
  • Overdevelopment of the site including urbanisation of the land
  • Lack of infrastructure, loss of wildlife and loss of property values

Planning chiefs said the site is currently occupied by one family and so activities are limited, but with 12 caravans there would be significant numbers of people permanently at the site, “in an area of the borough noted for its tranquillity and dark skies”.

Officers said the proposal would be significantly different with 12 residential caravans on this site along with existing agricultural buildings, compared to six.

The site currently has six car parking spaces and the officers also raised concern at the need for extra parking and the potential need to resurface the road due to increased used of the site.

On a more positive note for the applicant, officers said the plans would not impact on highway safety but this was not enough to stop the plans being refused.