Homes plan rejection overturned by inspector

The rejection of a 111-home plan has been overturned by a planning inspector who found its advantages would outweigh its drawbacks.

The proposal for land north of Reading Road in Arborfield was rejected last year by Wokingham Borough Council, which said the greenfield site made development "unacceptable in principle".

Dandara Southern Ltd and Elstree Land Ltd appealed that verdict and planning inspector Lesley Coffey overturned the council's decision on Monday.

Despite it conflicting with a council policy on where development should take place, it was still a "suitable location" for homes, she said.

Coffey added that despite its "adverse impacts", allowing the appeal would "not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits".

The land is around 1km (0.62 miles) west of the centre of Arborfield Cross and close to bus stops that run services into Reading, Shinfield and Wokingham.

Daniel Bradbury, a director of Elstree Land, said a planning inquiry chaired by Coffey meant the project underwent "rigorous scrutiny and healthy debate".

He said work is expected to start in the next year.