Strutt & Parker (acting as planning consultant) provided strategic planning advice and helped guide the applications through to determination. All three applications were unanimously supported by officers and importantly, members of the Wokingham BC Planning Committee.

These three permissions are the latest in a succession of consents achieved at the Park and will now see the delivery of a new:

• Aldi foodstore – with a net sales area of circa 14,000ft²
• Costa Coffee drive-thru – providing a convenient food and drink service within the Park
• New industrial units - totaling over 160,000ft² at the Park.

This is seen as a major coup as the Park seeks to consolidate and attract new tenants in an ever increasing competitive marketplace.

The Planning team facing local opposition from residents and the ward Councillor made sure pre-application meetings were held with key individuals to understand their concerns and to address these in the submissions.

The applications were accompanied by a detailed Retail Impact Assessment prepared by Strutt & Parker given the Park’s out-of-centre location and a Local Plan policy which opposed the removal of Class B uses. Members praised the approach taken by the project team and the thoroughness of the applications submitted.

The team has secured the discharge of several pre-commencement conditions and work is now underway at the Park which, when complete, will see the delivery of over 400 new jobs to the area.

For further details on the proposals, or for general planning advice, please do not hesitate to contact the Oxford Team.