The Planning Committee of Wokingham Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026. The committee elected Councillor Martijn Andrea as Chair and Councillor Carroll Jewell as Vice-Chair. The main item of business was the approval of a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resource base at St. Paul's Church of England Junior School, which was approved subject to referral to the Secretary of State.

St. Paul's Church of England Junior School SEND Resource Base

The committee approved, subject to referral to the Secretary of State, the application for a single-story Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resource base at St. Paul's Church of England Junior School, located on Oxford Road, Wokingham. This facility will cater for up to 16 pupils with autism spectrum disorders and will require six additional staff members.

The primary policy issue raised was the loss of a portion of the school's playing field, which led to an objection from Sport England. While acknowledging this conflict with local and national planning policies designed to protect playing fields, the committee considered that the significant educational and community benefits of the SEND provision outweighed this loss. The report highlighted that the remaining playing field would still be sufficient for the school's physical education curriculum, including the provision of pitches and space for a running track. It was also noted that these sports facilities were not part of the borough's strategic pitch supply.

During the debate, Councillor Wayne Smith sought clarification on the extent of the playing field loss, and officers explained that any loss of playing field land, regardless of size, could trigger an objection from Sport England. Councillor Caroline Smith inquired about the precedent this decision might set, and officers confirmed that each application is assessed on its own merits, with the SEND requirement being a distinguishing factor in this case. The committee also discussed the accessibility of the proposed unit, with assurances that it would comply with building regulations and be wheelchair accessible. Concerns were also raised about parking, and a condition was imposed requiring a Parking Management Plan to be submitted.

The application was recommended for approval by officers, with the caveat that due to Sport England's maintained objection, it would need to be referred to the Secretary of State via the National Planning Casework Unit before a decision notice could be issued. The applicant had indicated they might withdraw the application if it were called in for determination by the Secretary of State. The committee ultimately voted unanimously to approve the application.

The meeting also included updates on appeal decisions and major appeal performance.