Planning

Planning Applications

Swallowfield Parish Council is notified by Wokingham Borough Council (“WBC”) of all planning applications in the Parish. The Parish Council is expected to review each application in detail, drawing on its local knowledge, and to comment where appropriate. However, the Parish Council does not have the authority to approve or refuse an application.

Planning applications are discussed at Parish Council meetings each month, or occasionally at separate Planning Meetings, any of which the public may attend in the usual way. All comments will be reported in the minutes and the conclusions forwarded to WBC. Decisions are normally taken by the Borough Council's planning officers. Occasionally, an application may be referred to WBC's Planning Committee (made up of WBC councillors) for consideration.

Planning Advice

 WBC’s Planning Department can provide advice about any planning matters. This includes design guides and other information about developments requiring planning permission, and how to obtain it, as well as requirements of the Building Control Regulations. Further information is available here.

In making their decision, planners are required to take into account a Parish’s Village Design Statement, These documents are prepared by local people to provide design criteria for the appearance of new buildings, including extensions, to ensure that they blend with the local environment and reflect local character. Design statements currently in place for Swallowfield Parish include:

• Swallowfield Village Design Statement - published 2003
• Riseley Village Design Statement - published 2005

Responding to a Planning Application

If you wish to formally support or object to a planning application, please complete a comment form online to ensure that your opinion is noted by Wokingham Borough Council. Alternatively, please call 0118 974 6282 or email development.control@wokingham.gov.uk.

You may also want to contact the Clerk or Planning Committee Chair at Swallowfield Parish Council.

Please note that a copy of all comments submitted (signatures redacted) can be viewed by the public, including the applicant, on the WBC planning website. You can review the comments here.