Decision Maker: Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor for Housing, Partnerships and the Local Plan - Stephen Conway

Outcome: For Determination

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: January 15, 2026

Purpose: To consider Wokingham Borough Council’s response to Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2024-2042 Draft Spatial Strategy Regulation 18 Consultation (November 2025), to ensure any negative impacts upon Wokingham Borough are minimised and that any benefits are maximised.

Content: The Executive Member for Housing, Partnerships and the Local Plan agrees that Wokingham Borough Council submits representations confirming the following as this council’s response to the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2024-2042 Draft Spatial Strategy Regulation 18 Consultation (November 2025): 1. Support the use of the national standard method to calculate housing need and its use as the basis for setting the housing requirement. 2. Support the intention to meet housing need, as calculated by the national standard method, in full. 3. Support the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone being a location where growth is not planned. 4. Support the intention to meet the needs of the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople communities in full. Further engagement is sought. 5. Support the intention to meet employment needs in full. 6. Request further engagement on transport and highways to ensure that potential impacts on the network arising from the proposed growth are appropriately considered and mitigated to an acceptable degree and that opportunities to promote sustainable travel are secured.