Developers have shown an interest in developing Matthewsgreen Farm since at least 2006. This interest was given the green light when the Council included Matthewsgreen Farm in the North Wokingham Strategic Development Location, one of four locations around the Borough earmarked for major developments in its Core Strategy. Although there were originally four developers interested in this development two have dropped out leaving Bovis Homes and Gleeson Homes (subsequently sold interest to Linden Homes), although it is Bovis who are making all the running here as they are the major stakeholder.
The sequence of the more significant planning applications is given below. The ERA response (where relevant) can be seen by clicking on the reference number:
- Bovis started the application process in May 2014 with an application (ref F/2014/1216) to use land to the south of Monkey Mates for the parkland for the development as required by planning regulations. This was approved in September 2014.
- This was followed by an outline application (ref O/2014/2242) to build 760 dwellings on Matthewsgreen Farm in October 2014 which was approved by the Council in February 2015 with numerous conditions.
- Reserved matters application (ref 150093) submitted in June 2015 for the first phase of the development of 100 dwellings plus an application to cover some of the conditions required by the outline approval. The reserved matters application was approved in October 2015.
- An application (ref 152642) in September 2015 to cover some more conditions including the submission of a Construction Environmental Management Plan. This plan is important as it governs the impact the construction will have on its neighbours including such aspects as construction accesses, construction traffic routing, hours of work, noise and dust. We have been in discussions with the Council over these issues and are pressing for the disruption construction work will cause to be minimised. Our main concerns here were over the construction accesses and we together with the JPRA and Ward Councillors were pressing for the Twyford Road to be used for this purpose from the very start of construction. The developers verbally agreed to this at a meeting between them, the Ward Councillors, the JPRA and us in December 2014. Unfortunately the developers reneged on this commitment at a later meeting and insisted that they would open an initial construction access from Toutley Road, which they would use until the one on Twyford Road was available. This later commitment was actual written into the CEMP they submitted as part of the planning application but, again, they have reneged on this later commitment as the later version of the CEMP approved by WBC in December 2015 now allows them to use the Toutley Road access for as long as they wish.
- Reserved Matters Application (ref 152649) for the section of the North Wokingham Distributor Road within the development showing its route through the development and where it joins onto the existing roads. This application was submitted immediately after the Council executive sanctioned the use of Toutley Road as part of the NWDR and reflects this solution. The application has subsequently been amended and ERA has responded to the amendments with this letter. For more on this please refer to the section on the North Wokingham Distributor Road.
- Reserved Matters Application (ref 191024) for the Local Centre (Approved July 2019) This centre is to be located on the northern side of the Northern Distributor Road (Queens Road) next to the site for the proposed primary school and community centre. Bovis originally submitted a plan for retail outlets on the ground floor with 19 rented flats above on a further three floors. The retail units are to consist of a local supermarket type store together with two smaller outlets yet to be decided. However, in the face of strong opposition to the height and overbearing nature of the proposal Bovis subsequently removed the fourth floor reducing the number of flats to 16. We submitted a revised response to this latest design which can be viewed here. The revised application was considered and approved at the Planning Committee meeting on the 14th August.
- Reserved Matters Application (ref 191026) for 4 houses (Approved July 2019) This application is for the construction of 4 two storey detached houses on the triangular plot at the corner of Toutley Road and the NDR. As the layout is consistent with the existing development and conforms to planning requirements we have not commented on this application
- Reserved Matters Application 191232 for a block of flats (Approved July 2019) This application is for a block of 9 flats on a plot on the south side of the NDR opposite the local centre. This site was originally intended for a block of assisted living units but as the Council have decided that they would be surplus to future needs, Bovis have raised this application as a replacement. As the block would be similar in height and mass to blocks previously approved by the Council we have not commented on this application.
- Reserved Matters Application (ref 191949) for Phase 4 This application is for a total of 388 dwellings in the area between the NDR and Matthewsgreen Road to the east of the existing development. The ERA submitted a response to the public consultation objecting to the concentration of blocks of flats along the section of the Queens Road (NDR) opposite the site for the new primary school. This response can be viewed here.
The following provides a more detailed chronology of events related to the MGF development:
Dateline 27th October 2016
Minutes of the Community Liaison Meeting held on 16th October have been published. If you wish to read these minutes please click here.
Dateline 27th September 2016
The first batch of names of streets on the MGF development has been announced, and they include the names of notable local people, as suggested by our local historian, Peter Shilham. A map and an explanation of the names appear in the main entry below.
Dateline 9th September 2016
– More information on the proposed Linden Homes development.
– Details of a revision to Bovis’s plans for the flats to be built at the corner of Matthewsgreen Road and Toutley Road.
– Information about a proposed change in the alignment of the Northern Distributor Road.
– Information about the removal of part of the hedgerow in Toutley Road.
Dateline 7th September 2016
Linden Homes, the company that is responsible for development of the north-west corner of the MGF site, has submitted its prospectus for the site design and layout.
Dateline 13th August 2016
Bovis Homes have posted an update on their Wokingham Community website, giving further details of the SANG and of the new pedestrian crossing on Old Forest Road.A new update has been posted on the Bovis Homes Wokingham community website, giving details about the SANG being provided as part of the Matthewsgreen Farm development and the new pedestrian crossing on Old Forest Road. The update includes overview and detailed diagrams of the SANG, plans of the pedestrian crossing and the expected completion date of these works.
Dateline 8th August 2016
Minutes of the residents’ liaison meeting that was held on Thursday 7th July.
Dateline 19th July 2016
A link has been provided to the “Official Community Website” that Bovis Homes have set up for the neighbouring residents of Matthewsgreen Farm and the Hatch Farm Dairies development at Winnersh.
Dateline 18th July 2016
Presentations from the North Wokingham Community Forum meeting, held on 18th July.
Dateline 11th July 2016
ERA has re-submitted its response to the Reserved Matters Application for Phase 2A of the development.
Dateline 8th July 2016
The developer has submitted planning applications for the erection of advertising hoardings and flagpoles at various points around the site.
Dateline 29th June 2016
Notification, plans and revised street scenes for Phase 2a of the development.
Dateline 3rd June 2016
A plan showing a slight revision to the proposed line of the North Wokingham Distributor Road.
Dateline 25th May 2016
A letter from Wokingham Borough Council concerning the design of the Toutley Road section of the Northern Distributor Road.
Dateline 22nd May 2016
Update on the two planning applications for Phase 2A submitted (ref 160765 and 160914).
Dateline 20th May 2016
Photographs and a map illustrating the works being carried out on the Emmbrook Walk (see also dateline 10th May).
Dateline 16th May 2016
The minutes of a meeting of the Matthewsgreen Residents Liaison group, held on 25th April 2016.
Dateline 12th May 2016
Notification of road closures in connection with the MGF Development.
Dateline 11th May 2016
Notification that the public forum meeting originally planned to take place on 18th May has been postponed.
Dateline 10th May 2016
A note about work to be carried out by Bovis to the Emmbrook Walk.
Dateline 4th May 2016
Notice of works involving alterations to the traffic management system for site traffic.
Dateline 3rd May 2016
Two planning applications for Phase 2A submitted (ref 160765 and 160914).
Dateline 6th April 2016
Information relating to forthcoming road closures related to the MGF development.
Dateline 22nd March 2016
A report on the second Community Forum Meeting held at The Emmbrook School on Monday 21st March 2016.
Dateline 16th March 2016
News that the WBC Planning Committee has approved the application for the part of the Northern Distributor Road within the development.
Dateline 8th March 2016
A note about the WBC Planning Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday 15th March to consider the developers’ section of the Northern Distributor Road.
Dateline 1st March 2016
– Link to a leaflet distributed by WBC Councillors relating to the development, and construction traffic issues.
– Cautionary note from ERA regarding the accuracy of a statement by the Councillors concerning the Toutley Road access for construction traffic.
Dateline 21st February 2016
Report on a meeting held on 15th February between ERA, Joel Park Residents Association and our Ward Councillors. Matters discussed included
– construction issues (site signage, lorry wheel cleaning, parking for contractors’ vehicles
– communication with developers
– planning, timeframes, Northern Distributor Road, construction access
– Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces (SANGs)
– new primary school
Dateline 17th February 2016
A note on the Public Forum meeting concerning the Northern Distributor Road, held at The Emmbrook School on 17th February and attended by 450 local residents.
Dateline 28th January 2016
A note on the commencement of groundworks at Matthewsgreen Farm and the new road from Twyford Road at the Bell Foundry Lane junction.
Dateline 9th January 2016
A note concerning the commencement of work on
– temporary access to the site from Toutley Road and Twyford Road
– the first section of the Northern Distributor Road
– the first phase of the housing
Minutes of the Community Liaison Meeting held on 16th October have been published. Attendees at the meeting included Wokingham Borough councillors and representatives from Bovis, Savills, Cratus and the Joel Park Residents Association as well as four members of the ERA committee. Subjects under discussion were progress on action points agreed at previous meetings, a planning update, a build update and concerns that have been raised by existing Emmbrook residents. If you wish to read these minutes please click here.
The names of the first streets on the Matthewsgreen development have now been announced, and they are shown on the map below. Local historian (and ERA committee member) Peter Shilham was invited to submit suggestions for the names of streets on the development, based on historic local figures, and several of his ideas have been incorporated into this first batch of names. Peter’s commentary on the names that have been used appears below the map.
EAMER (Eamer Crescent) A large family in Emmbrook Village, having arrived by 1871. The tragedies in this family were not restricted to war deaths – Private Harry Eamer was killed on that infamous day in British Army history on 1st July 1916 – but also in the death of a 10 month daughter by scalding, the inquest being held at The Rifle Volunteer (1892). Of the many Eamer persons one is the bricklayer credited with the work in the old Police Station in Rectory Road amongst other buildings around the town.
LANGMAN
(Langman Close) Frederick George Langman, the landlord of “The Dog & Duck” public house was infamously involved in a considerable fracas there involving members from the families of Challis, Shilton, Goble and Sadler. It resulted in a hearing at the Quarter Sessions in Reading in 1901 when witnesses from a party from Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory spoke in defence of Langman. Some 25 years later one of his daughters, Agnes, married William Challis.
NICHOLSON
(Nicholson Drive) Edward Nicholson was one of the founding members of the Linoleum Manufacturing Company, linoleum having been invented by Frederick Walton and which was first produced in 1864 at Staines, Middlesex. Edward Nicholson bought the Matthews Green Estate in 1877 from Captain Elliott Morres and rebuilt part of Matthews Green House – now the Cantley House Hotel – in 1880. Edward’s son Alfred built a house on land at High Close, Wokingham which he named Glebelands. Alfred and his wife Letitia raised three daughters and four sons. Tragically three (Edward, Bruce and Victor) were killed in the First World War. Their fourth son, Walter, was awarded the Military Cross in the conflict and later was employed in manufacturing biscuits. Edward and Sophia were most generous benefactors, in time and money, to both Wokingham and Emmbrook. Their son Alfred followed the custom of “good deeds”.
SKATES
(Skates Drive) William John Skates worked for 36 years at AWRE Aldermaston where he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the December New Year’s Honours List in 1985. Sadly he passed away in June 2014 after a long battle with illness. A respected Wokingham man who was not only a courageous rear gunner in World War II but also a man who dedicated much of his working life to the safety of workers and civilians at Aldermaston.
YALDEN
(Yalden Close) William Yalden (1864 – 1933) moved to Emmbrook Road from Matthews Green. He had had a lengthy career in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps before settling here, having served in Ireland, Malta, South Africa (he was involved in the defence of Ladysmith), India and Ceylon. One of his sons, Leonard, who was born in Gibraltar, was posthumously awarded the Military Medal – killed in action 1st July 1916. There is a family connection with Robert Yalden an undertaker and coffin maker in Wokingham.
Linden Homes – The Linden Homes proposal, referred to as Phase 2b of the Matthewsgreen Farm Development, has been given a planning application number of 162140. The plans can be viewed on the Council’s planning website in the usual way, where the deadline for comments is given as 27th September.
Phase 1 affordable housing block – Bovis have now submitted revised plans for the block of flats facing the corner of Matthewsgreen Road and Toutley Road. As the size of this block has been a contentious issue for some time, Bovis have reduced its height from 3 storeys to 21/2. The revised plans can be viewed on the Council’s planning website under the reference 162423. This is a ‘non-material amendment’ (that is a minor change) application and the planners would not normally invite comments on it. However, in view of the public interest in this issue the Planning Officer is willing to take into account any responses he receives, but as they intend making a decision on it before 27th September any comments need to be submitted well before then.
Toutley Road and the Northern Distributor Road – there are two points of interest here, both concerning the western end of the NDR yet to be constructed within the development.
The first is that Bovis have submitted a non-material amendment application (ref 162424) to route this section of the NDR 1.5m further away from the Toutley Road dwellings than the existing road. This change has been introduced at the Council’s request and is unlikely to be refused, but as with the Phase 1 affordable housing block application, the Planning Officer is willing to receive responses on this, but they need to be submitted promptly.
The second point is, as residents of the Toutley Road area already know, the hedge along the development’s boundary with Toutley Road has been removed between the site entrance and the boundary with Thames Water’s site. The few remaining hedgerow trees are to be removed in the next week or so. All this clearance work is in preparation for the construction of the last section of the NDR mentioned above.
Linden Homes is the company that purchased from Gleeson the minority stake in the Matthewsgreen Farm development – the part that is not being developed by Bovis. Linden have now submitted their plans for the layout and design of their site, and published it in a four-page glossy colour brochure which has been distributed only to a few households located close to their development. To view the prospectus, please click here.
DATELINE 13th AUGUST 2016
A new update has been posted on the Bovis Homes Wokingham community website, giving details about the Suitable Area of Natural Greenspace (SANG) being provided as part of the Matthewsgreen Farm development and the new pedestrian crossing on Old Forest Road. The update includes overview and detailed diagrams of the SANG, plans of the pedestrian crossing and the expected completion date of these works. To view the Bovis website, please click here. Please note that there is a facility on this website for you to register your details so that, if you should wish to do so, you may receive further updates direct from Bovis in the future.
DATELINE 8th AUGUST 2016
Somewhat belatedly, we have received from Bovis’s agent, Middlemarch Communications, the minutes of the residents’ liaison meeting that was held on Thursday 7th July. To read these minutes, please click here.
Bovis Homes have set up a dedicated website for the neighbouring residents of Matthewsgreen Farm and Hatch Farm Dairies, Winnersh.
On this website they intend to provide overviews of both projects, a list of community contacts and an interactive form for feedback. The website will continue to be updated as more important information is added. To visit the website, please click here.
A meeting of the North Wokingham Community Forum was held at The Emmbrook School on Monday 18th July. To view the presentations that were made by various parties at the meeting, please click here.
ERA has re-submitted its response to Wokingham Borough Council with regard to the Reserved Matters Application for Phase 2A of the development. To read our response, please click here.
The developer has submitted planning applications for the erection of advertising hoardings and flagpoles at various points around the site, including at the corner of Matthewsgreen Road and Twyford Road, at the western end of Matthewsgreen Road, and at the site entrances at Matthewsgreen Road and Toutley Road. To see the letter from Wokingham Borough Council in connection with this application (which includes details of how to make comments, if you should wish to do so) please click here.
Following extensive consultation with Wokingham Borough Council officers, the applicants have made a number of changes to the Phase 2a scheme including reducing the scheme from 84 units to 82 units. Full details of the changes are given in a letter from the agents acting on behalf of Bovis. The site layout and the proposed street scenes have also been revised.
To view the letter that is referred to above, please click here. To view the document showing the updated site layout and the proposed street scenes, please click here. To view the revised “street scenes”, please click here.
On 3rd June we received the following communication from Sam Goss of the Highways and Transport Department at Wokingham Borough Council:
“There have been requests for a plan showing the revised alignment following the [Toutley Road] workshops. At present we are still reviewing the crossing of the Ashridge Stream and roundabout junction at Old Forest Road and as such are yet to update a general arrangement plan. However, Bovis Homes have updated their drawing in line with my letter dated 25th May 2016 (Ref: NWDR-TRS-L004) which shows the relative position of the proposed carriageway and is attached for information. The new road will continue on this alignment up to Summerfield Close.”
To view this revised plan, please click here.
Please click here to view a letter from Wokingham Borough Council regarding the design of the Toutley Road section of the Northern Distributor Road.
To see our response to the two planning applications (ref 160765 and 160914) reported under dateline 3rd May please follow this link.
Work on surfacing the Emmbrook Walk (see also Dateline 10th May) is under way and we have been given two photographs of the work in progress together with a map and explanatory notes, as follows:
The area shown on the map is split into three sections which will be worked on in turn (section 1, then 2, then 3) and during the works to each section either of the other two sections will be accessed via the pink highlighted areas.
The faint orange line is the path under construction
The path is of course “indicative”, as during construction phase there may be a need for very slight changes in order to align the path with the landscape.
The first section should be completed within the next few days (as of Thursday 19th May) – the photos here show the progress today. The bare soil either side of the path will be seeded with Amenity Grass Seed and will be done as the work is carried out. These areas are, according to the landscaper, not being turfed because:
1. Once turf is put down, in order for it to “stick” nobody would be allowed to walk on it for 6-8 weeks which isn’t practical as we want people to be able to use the path as soon as possible..
2. Turf requires a high amount of continuous up-keep which natural grass doesn’t.
Please click on this link to view the minutes of the Matthewsgreen Residents Liaison group, which was held on 25th April 2016. The group consists of representatives from ERA and the Joel Park Residents Association, local ward councillors, and Bovis and their planning and public relations consultants. These minutes have not previously been published here because they have only just come into our possession.
Wokingham Borough Council has published details of some temporary road closures that will affect roads surrounding the development (specifically, the A321 Twyford Road and Bell Foundry Lane). For full details of these closures please click on this link.
Please note that the Open Forum meeting previously announced as taking place on May 18th (and publicised on this webpage under the dateline 22nd March 2016) has been postponed for practical reasons and will now take place some time in June. Watch this space for further details of the new date/venue/format and content.
We understand that the work that is to be undertaken is required by Wokingham Borough Council because the SANG area is off-site, and a link has to be provided between the two sites. The work will comprise minor alterations to footpaths and bridges in Emmbrook Walk and new pedestrian crossings on Old Forest Road and Toutley Road. The work will be phased so as to ensure that there is public land available to the residents of the area at all times. This means that whilst at any one time one entrance has been closed, the others will be open. The work will be completed by mid-June.
We have asked Mr Detzler to let us have details of what residents can expect to see when the work has been completed. The information that we have so far is that a map is going to be produced, showing the route of the linking path, which will be edged in timber and topped with limestone “dust”.
We will publish the map here as soon as we have received it.
The version of this letter that has been distributed more widely in the last day or two refers twice to the work taking place in Emmbrook Vale. This was an error on their part, which was corrected as a result of an intervention by ERA. It should, of course, say Emmbrook Walk.
Through Cllr Chris Singleton of Wokingham Borough Council, Bovis contractors have advised us that they are closing the entrance to the site at Twyford Road to enable works on the new roundabout to be undertaken from Wednesday 4th May. They have notified their suppliers that this entrance will be closed from then and that they will need to make all deliveries via Old Forest Road / Toutley Road following the traffic management route. They are also placing their gate man on the junction of Twyford Road and Milton Road to stop any construction traffic that may try to use this route for the next few days. The access is likely to be closed until the end of May with further highway tie in works occurring until July along Twyford Road. Cllr Singleton has reiterated to Bovis their responsibilities over this period.
DATELINE 3rd MAY 2016
Following their exhibition at the North Wokingham Forum on the 21st March in the Emmbrook School hall Bovis Homes have submitted two applications for the second phase of development of Matthewsgreen Farm. Known as Phase 2A, they are for 84 dwellings in the northeast corner of the site and for part of the development’s open space provision. The reason for there being two applications is due to a technicality of the planning system, as only the principle of development for the site, and not the details of it, was approved by the outline planning application in 2015. Therefore, the first of the current applications, ref 160765, is required to submit the design details of this phase, whilst the second, ref 160914, is required to cover, or discharge, specific conditions laid down by the Council in their approval of the outline application. So, together these two applications will give full approval for this phase of development to proceed.
We understand that, although Bovis Homes have submitted these applications, another builder will be carrying out the construction work.
Wokingham Borough Council has given notice of road closures that are to take place while works are carried out in connection with the MGF development. If you go to https://www.roadworks.org, select “next two weeks” and Emmbrook, you can see a map showing the road closures over the next few weeks and the diversion routes. These routes are illustrated on the maps that can be viewed by clicking on the relevant links:
– Diversion 1 – A321 Twyford Road/Bell Foundry Lane diversion
– Diversion 2 – Matthewsgreen Road diversion
– Diversion 3 – Toutley Road diversion
We are also attaching a copy of a letter from Gracelands Ltd, a company that is acting on behalf of the developers, setting out the reasons for the road closures and diversions. Please note that Gracelands saw fit to distribute this letter to only 200 households. ERA believes that it should have gone to all households in the area, which is why we are publishing it here.
The second of a series of Community Forum meetings was held at The Emmbrook School on Monday 21st February, with approximately 200 local residents attending.
To view the exhibition boards and each of the three presentations, please click on the links in blue text.
There was an exhibition of display boards illustrating the plans for Phase 2 of the development. This was followed by the meeting itself, which comprised a short presentation by David Smith from the Planning Department at Wokingham Borough Council, and a longer presentation by Charlie Collins from Savils, the agent representing the developers. There was also a presentation about the plans for the “Suitable Area of Natural Green Space” (SANG), which the developers now prefer to refer to as a Country Park.
The meeting ended with a lively question and answer session, during which many searching questions were asked.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 18th May, at a time and venue to be confirmed. Update added 11th May 2016: The Open Forum meeting previously announced as taking place on May 18th has been postponed for practical reasons and will now take place some time in June.
The planning application for the construction of the Northern Distributor Road within the Matthewsgreen Farm development (ref 152649) was approved at last night’s planning committee meeting by 7 votes with 1 against and 1 abstention.
The planning application to approve the construction of the Northern Distributor Road within the Matthewsgreen Farm development (ref 152649) is to be considered at the Planning Committee Meeting on next Tuesday the 15th. This may sound to be of little interest to existing residents, but as it will define how and where the Road will join the Toutley and Twyford Roads it is of some considerable significance, particularly for those living on Toutley Road and the cul-de-sacs off it.
The meeting is to be held at Shute End and starts at 6.30PM. To see the meeting agenda click here.
Our local Councillors have recently distributed a leaflet to some of our residents concerning the Matthewsgreen development and the ensuing construction traffic, which can be seen by clicking here. Although it contains useful information we would raise a note of caution over their statement that “on completion of Phase lA of the development the construction site access on Toutley Road will be closed leaving the main site access on Twyford Road via the new road currently being constructed”. As far as we know, this has not been agreed with the developers as Bovis’s position on construction accesses was made clear at the meeting with them held on the 15th February. The notes of the meeting, reported under dateline 21st February, state in section 3 –
- NDR / Construction Access
- Bovis will update/liaise with residents on the timing of any future decision to stop up the Toutley Road construction access. Both site accesses (Toutley and Twyford) may be used under the CMP. Bovis will ensure that Twyford is used as the predominant access, notably once the NDR is constructed – TO NOTE (post meeting note – Residents are reminded that to construct the SANGs and also the Gleeson parcel, Old Forest Road/Toutley access will be required).
So it is clear that Old Forest Road will continue to be used for the construction of the SANG if its construction continues beyond the completion of Phase 1A. Also, the developers of the Gleeson controlled land will use Old Forest Road and Toutley Road as their preferred construction route.
Last week we attended a meeting with the developers together with the Joel Park Residents Association and our Ward Councillors. On the developers’ side the representatives were from Bovis, Savills their planning consultants, and Gracelands the subcontractors carrying out the ground works for them. The recent relationship with them has been rather fractious and this is the first meeting for over 8 months. However, this latest meeting was quite business like and covered numerous topics concerning construction and planning issues and future plans. So, rather than trying to précis them here, it is thought better to reproduce the notes taken at the meeting –
Matthewsgreen – Residents Liaison Meeting
15 February 2016 at 7pm – Board Room – Wokingham Borough Council
Attendees:
Charlie Collins – Savills (Planning consultant for Bovis)
Simon Wakerley – Build Director – Bovis
Jonathan Wheeler – Land Director – Bovis
Andrew Groman – Lead Contractor
Councillor Clark – Ward Member for Emmbrook
Councillor Singleton – Ward Member for Emmbrook
Councillor Mirfin – Ward Member for Emmbrook
Paul Gallagher – Emmbrook Residents Association
Chris Mallett (via Phone) – Emmbrook Residents Association
Bob Millen – Emmbrook Residents Association
Helen Dixon – Joel Park Residents Association
Stephen Samson – Joel Park Residents Association
Kolin Mistry – Joel Park Residents Association
The agenda was agreed. It was agreed that Charlie Collins should act as Chairman/ meeting note taker.
All were reminded of the project website.
http://www.matthewsgreenfarm.co.uk/
The following ACTIONS were agreed.
CONSTRUCTION ISSUES
- Construction Signs
- Plan to be marked up outlining location of signs / against Red Route / Blue Route demonstrated in the Construction Management Plan (CMP) – BOVIS
- The plan to be placed on project website – BOVIS
- Weekday checks to be made on location / positioning of signs – BOVIS
- Residents to be encouraged to note vehicle type and registration number when reporting any issues – RESIDENTS
2. Wheel Cleaning
- Permanent wheel cleaning to be added to Toutley Road entrance within next two weeks (in addition to the already installed facility on the Twyford Road entrance) – BOVIS
- Temporary wheel cleaning facility to be placed on Toutley Road entrance in the meantime – BOVIS
- Road sweeper in place to ensure regular road cleaning (to note) – marked as ‘GoPlant’. Roadsweeper to be able to use Matthewsgreen Road between 10am – 2pm weekdays and Saturdays (to 1pm) – BOVIS (subject to confirmation from WBC highways officers)
3. Contractor Parking / Deliveries
- All site workers to be reminded of Wokingham Half Marathon on 21st February 2016 – starting at Cantley Park – BOVIS
- Residents to be encouraged to note vehicle type and registration number when reporting any issues – RESIDENTS
- All contractor parking to be on-site (car park to be installed) – BOVIS
- WBC officers to be approached re: suitable layby/ location – for any occasional early deliveries to stop over – BOVIS
4. Other Construction Issues
- All reminded that the permitted build times were 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday). 8am to 1pm (Saturday). With no build permitted on Sundays or Public Holidays – TO NOTE
and hours when HGVs should not be moving - Communication to be improved to ensure that residents know of any traffic lights / works on highways. Traffic lights to be installed to attempt to minimise disruption – BOVIS
- Bovis to attend the monthly highways liaison meeting (roadworks) – hosted by Edward Day (WBC) – BOVIS
- A summary of the CMP to be added to the website – BOVIS
COMMUNICATION
- A leaflet to be produced informing Residents of contact details, the construction and key timeline events of the build (period 2016 – 2020) – BOVIS
timescale to produce/print/distribute?
consider sharing draft of this and other communication material for comment - Website to be updated every month, or more regularly if required – BOVIS
- Residents Groups to be informed of updates so that this information can also be circulated using the regular newsletters – RESIDENTS
- Local schools and nurseries to be informed on occasion – to allow information to be distributed in their parent newsletters – BOVIS
- Website to include a ‘register here’ section – so that a communication list may be established – BOVIS
- Consideration to be provided to use ‘Street-Wise’ (Bovis will investigate) – BOVIS
should be streetlife - A link to be requested from the WBC website to the Matthewsgreen website – BOVIS
- Updates to be provided, including a plan, demonstrating proposed highways works/ road closures and timing – BOVIS
- All key site contacts to be placed on website – BOVIS
PLANNING / TIMEFRAMES / NDR / CONSTRUCTION ACCESS
- NDR / Construction Access
- Bovis will update/ liaise with residents on the timing of any future decision to stop up the Toutley Road construction access. Both site accesses (Toutley and Twyford) may be used under the CMP. Bovis will ensure that Twyford is used as the predominant access, notably once the NDR is constructed – TO NOTE (post meeting note – Residents are reminded that to construct the SANGs and also the Gleeson parcel, Old Forest Road/ Toutley access will be required).
- The present construction works on site coincided with the proposed alignment of the NDR because:
- Construction accesses are permitted on Twyford Road and Toutley Road
- The haul road follows the same alignment of the NDR
- The required utilities infrastructure follows the same alignment of the NDR
- The site benefits from outline planning consent – which permits initial works (see Section 106)
- All were reminded that the NDR alignment is Council policy, as confirmed at the 24 September Executive – TO NOTE
- Bovis hopes to be at Planning Committee on 3rd March for the NDR. A further iteration of plans has been shared and agreed with Officers. Once reserved matters approval has been gained, Bovis will commence construction of the NDR immediately. A contract has now been let – TO NOTE
- Therefore, the NDR should be completed in 2016 (the Matthewsgreen elements) – TO NOTE
2. SANGs
- SANG contractor to be appointed. Construction from April to September – BOVIS
- A sign will be erected on the SANGs site informing residents of the construction. A further sign may be located nearer the Matthewsgreen site – BOVIS
- Emmbrook Corridor to now be referred as ‘Emmbrook Walk’ – TO NOTE
- Consideration to be provided for additional drawings/ artist impressions of the SANGs – BOVIS
3. Primary School / Other
- The land for the primary school will be transferred on the 100 occupation (circa 2 years time). WBC will build the school, and hence pursue the planning for the school and community building – TO NOTE
- A meeting with Josie Wragg of WBC to be set up to discuss liaison over school build – COUNCILLOR MIRFIN
4. Phase 1 & General
- Bovis has planning permission to build the Phase 1. The comments of some Members were noted from the last Planning Committee re: the proposed three storey block of flats to the south west of the Phase 1 site. Bovis has been in dialogue with Borough officers over this Block of flats and notes residents/ Member concern over the design – TO NOTE
- Summary of project timeframes (based on planning conditions / Section 106) to be created and placed on the website – BOVIS
FEEDBACK
- It was acknowledged that the January communication with residents could have been better – TO NOTE
- It was agreed that ‘face to face’ liaison and communication is sometimes better than e-mail – TO NOTE
- Residents were unhappy that some e-mails had not been responded to, or directly responded to – TO NOTE
- Liaison has to be ‘two way’ and regular – TO NOTE
NEXT MEETINGS
Further meetings will be arranged in:
- April
- July (prior to Summer Holidays)
- October
- January 2017
The boardroom at Wokingham Borough Council will be used where available.
It was also noted that a Community Forum will be held on 21st March (TBC) to discuss the Phase 2 development of c.84 dwellings. North east part of Matthewsgreen.
The meeting closed at 9pm.
After months of procrastination by Wokingham Borough Council, we finally succeeded in getting them to hold a Public Forum meeting at the Emmbrook School on the evening of 17th February. We were delighted that, on a rainy and cold evening during half term, about 450 people attended. This was a very strong statement to WBC that the people of Emmbrook care about their community. In the audience too were the Council Leader Keith Baker, MP John Redwood, ward councillors and a representative from the Wokingham Paper.
The meeting began with a presentation by Council officer Matt Davey on the detail around the Northern Distributor Road (NDR) route decision. There were then short statements by the ERA and Joel Park Residents Association Chairmen before the most important part of the evening – the Q&A session. This lasted about an hour, and members of the audience made their views clear about the change from the route that the majority of residents had voted for to what we will now get which is very different. The meeting closed with a short statement from the ERA Chairman, who observed that the many questions raised by the audience on issues related to the new development (the school, the community centre, the new parkland off Old Forest Road, flooding issues ….) had not been adequately answered. He said he hoped that these would be addressed at the next meeting – date and venue to be confirmed but possibly 21st March at the Emmbrook School.
Those of you who live on or frequent Toutley Road and Matthewsgreen Road cannot have failed to notice that ground works have been going on on the site for some weeks now. This work is being carried out by Graceland Ltd on behalf of Bovis and appears to be in preparation for the Northern Distributor Road and the roundabout at its junction with the Twyford Road.
It does seem rather strange that this work is proceeding, as at the moment the planning application (number 152649) has not been approved by the Council, and we been have told that it is unlikely to be approved until the March Planning Committee meeting. We can only assume that, as the position of the roundabout is fixed by the fact that Bell Foundry Lane is to be part of the NDR, the Council have given the developers the nod to get on with it prior to formal approval.
The developers have provided a telephone number, 07785737234, to use if the work causes any problems. However, we would ask you to let us know of any issues you have with the construction of the development, not just now but in the future as well, so that we can keep a log of them and put pressure on the Council to get the developers to deal with them promptly.
Before Christmas Savills, who are the agents for Bovis Homes, informed us that construction of the development would start on the 5th January and that the initial work would consist of –
- Temporary accesses from Toutley Road and Twyford Road (A321)
- Implementation of the first section of the Northern Distributor Road (NDR) – at the approved Twyford Road roundabout (one of the principal site accesses)
- Start of the Phase 1 housing, which is located to the south west of the site, bordering Toutley Road and Matthewsgreen Road.
Clearly this work did not start on the date given, but we can assume that it is now imminent. They also stated that Bovis would provide names and contact details for the construction team in the New Year. Again, this has not happened yet, but when it does we will be publishing these details on the website and circulating them to our members.
Summary of applications
Developers have shown an interest in developing Matthewsgreen Farm since at least 2006. This interest was given the green light when the Council included Matthewsgreen Farm in the North Wokingham Strategic Development Location, one of four locations around the Borough earmarked for major developments in its Core Strategy. Although there were originally four developers interested in this development two have dropped out leaving Bovis Homes and Gleeson Homes, although it is Bovis who are making all the running here as they are the major stakeholder. The sequence of the more significant planning applications is given below, where the ERA response to them can be seen by clicking on the reference number:-
- Bovis started the application process in May 2014 with an application (ref F/2014/1216) to use land to the south of Monkey Mates for the parkland for the development as required by planning regulations. This was approved in September 2014.
- This was followed by an outline application (ref O/2014/2242) to build 760 dwellings on Matthewsgreen Farm in October 2014 which was approved by the Council in February 2015 with numerous conditions.
- Reserved matters application (ref 150093) submitted in June 2015 for the first phase of the development of 100 dwellings plus an application to cover some of the conditions required by the outline approval. The reserved matters application was approved in October 2015.
- An application (ref 152642) in September 2015 to cover some more conditions including the submission of a Construction Environmental Management Plan. This plan is important as it governs the impact the construction will have on its neighbours including such aspects as construction accesses, construction traffic routing, hours of work, noise and dust. We have been in discussions with the Council over these issues and are pressing for the disruption construction work will cause to be minimised. Our main concerns here were over the construction accesses and we together with the JPRA and Ward Councillors were pressing for the Twyford Road to be used for this purpose from the very start of construction. The developers verbally agreed to this at a meeting between them, the Ward Councillors, the JPRA and us in December 2014. Unfortunately the developers reneged on this commitment at a later meeting and insisted that they would open an initial construction access from Toutley Road, which they would use until the one on Twyford Road was available. This later commitment was actual written into the CEMP they submitted as part of the planning application but, again, they have reneged on this later commitment as the later version of the CEMP approved by WBC in December 2015 now allows them to use the Toutley Road access for as long as they wish.
- Reserved matters application (ref 152649) for the section of the North Wokingham Distributor Road within the development showing its route through the development and where it joins onto the existing roads. This application was submitted immediately after the Council executive sanctioned the use of Toutley Road as part of the NWDR and reflects this solution. The application has subsequently been amended and ERA has responded to the amendments with this letter. For more on this please refer to the section on the North Wokingham Distributor Road.
The end of an era: the final crop at Matthewsgreen Farm, in summer 2015.
