2011-11-23: Anxious wait for Shinfield residents

A LONG-awaited inquiry into plans to build more than 2,000 new homes in Shinfield finished on Wednesday last week. The Reading Chronicle

2011-11-25: Housing row could cost taxpayers millions

Taxpayers face an anxious wait to find out if millions of pounds staked on Wokingham’s housing plans has paid off.. Get Wokingham

2011-11-25: We won't build sink estates

Vast sink estates of housing will not be built in the Wokingham borough when development begins on the council’s four planned mini-towns. Get Wokingham

2011-11-10: University 'committed' to Shinfield homes development

A key player behind blueprints proposing the controversial development of 1,350 homes in Shinfield said the team is “collectively committed” to the delivery of the development. Get Wokingham

2011-11-10: Apologise for Shinfield Road traffic chaos

Calls for Reading’s lead councillor for transport to apologise for controversial changes to the layout of Shinfield Road’s traffic lights fell on deaf ears as councillors voted to back a series of ideas to help traffic flow. Get Wokingham

2011-09-22: News From Shinfield Parish Council

Today the Parish Council launches a petiton against the University of Reading's plans to build 1,350 homes south-west of Shinfield. The petition will be presented at the Planning Inquiry into the plans, which starts on 11th October. For more information see the Planning Update. Please sign the petition to help our case. You can sign it right now, by going to the petition page. Shinfield Parish Council

2011-08-01: MoD Garrison closure is welcomed by council

The announcement confirming the Ministry of Defence (MoD) intends to leave its home at Arborfield Garrison by 2015 could not have come at a more “opportune” moment, according to planning bosses. Get Wokingham

2011-07-26: Opposition persists to university's mini-town proposal

Concerns about infrastructure, flooding and a loss of green space dominate the thoughts of residents unhappy with plans to build a mini-town in Shinfield. Get Wokingham

Previous News Items...

Shinfield is again under threat

Proposals by UoR for a Science and Innovation Park off Cutbush Lane. The character of the Village (see Shinfield School Green VCS) will be changed beyond recognition and forever by the proposals in the Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) Core Strategy, proposals for a Science and Innovation Park off Cutbush Lane and residential development in the Village. These developments will close the green gaps between shinfield village, Ryeish green and Three Mile Cross. There are currently three planning applications with WBC that will affect you and your children:

1. University of Reading- Phase 1 of a Science and Innovation Park off Cutbush Lane. If this goes ahead the resulting gyratory system, at Lane End Farm, and the link to the Blackboy roundabout will provide the northern end of the old "Eastern Relief Road" proposal. The building of the relief road will provide evidence for the developers (UoR) to push forward their residential unit build plans (3500) for Shinfield Village unveiled by Meeting Place in the Autumn of 2008.

The Science Park build will create considerable disruption to residents in the area and those passing through. The building on existing farmland will have considerable impact on local wildlife and the countryside.

2. Linked to 1 above is the UoR proposal to demolish part of the listed building- Lane End Farm. This is to facilitate the building of a gyratory system- see above plans.

3. Submitted by the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance ( who own the land) a screening option to build 225 residential units off Church Lane (application No. OS/2009/1055)

If you do not want this to happen you must make your views known and heard by your local Councillors, Shinfield Parish Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

A Cutbush Lane resident, Chris Hossock has set up a Cutbush Lane Action Group to fight the proposals for the Science Park and part demoltion of Lane End Farm.

Please contact Chris to help on Chris@cutbushlane.com or visit the Cutbush Lane Science Park page..

WBC Core Strategy.

The Core Strategy details a broad approach to where development could go within the borough to 2026. The views of the community surveyed in autumn 2004, together with consultations in both summer and winter 2005 and summer 2006 have informed the submission Core Strategy.

Overall, by 2026, the aim of the submission Core Strategy is to protect key features of the borough’s landscape, ecology, heritage and environment. It also aims to ensure that everyone has good access to services such as schools, health and community facilities. A key to this is having a good transport system with adequate capacity. Development which will have to be of high quality will be concentrated in those towns and villages that either have a significant range of facilities and services or these are envisaged in the Plan period. If improvements to facilities and services cannot be achieved, development would not be acceptable in those areas with poor provision. Consequently, residential development is to be concentrated in four Strategic Development Locations at Arborfield Garrison (about 3,500 dwellings), south of the M4 (about 2,500 dwellings) 700 have already been allocated.

Consultation on the submission Core Strategy has now closed and the proposals have been through a public examination. We await the final decision.

A copy of the Report, Appendix and Background Papers for the Core Strategy are available on the Council's website

If you require any further information please contact your local Councillor, Shinfield Parish Council, Wokingham Borough Council, SRAG or Cutbush Lane group.