Charvil Neighbourhood Plan

Regulation 16 Consultation

Wokingham Borough Council completed a six week consultation (Regulation 16) on the submitted plan on Monday 13 October 2025.

The plan was then submitted to an independent examiner for comment. They approved the plan, and this is due to go before Wokingham Borough Council to approve the Neighbourhood Plan be submitted for a public referendum

Upcoming Dates:

• 26th February 2026: Wokingham Borough Council to vote on submitting the Neighbourhood Plan for public referendum
• May 2026 (provisional date): Public referendum to be held if approved by Wokingham Borough Council

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Regulation 15 Draft Neighbourhood Plan for Charvil

As part of the Government’s Localism agenda (Localism Act, 2011), local communities are being encouraged to develop Neighbourhood Plans as part of the Government’s approach to planning, which aims to give local people more say about what goes on in their area. The development of a Neighbourhood Plan is not imposed from above but is an opportunity for communities to set out the way they see the future of their Neighbourhood Area.

At this time Charvil currently faces a number of challenges as a community, regular periods of housing development since the mid-20th century with provision of only limited supporting infrastructure has meant that the village now risks losing much of it original pre -1990s character and nature becoming a suburban extension of Woodley or Twyford. The bisection of the village by the busy A4 and A3032 roads has been made worse by increasing road traffic levels and increasing noise and pollution. The lack of amenities that provide opportunity for community interaction such as a café or pre-school is keenly felt. Lack of public transport or safe efficient active travel options means that Charvil is a community reliant on the motor car to a startling degree.

Despite these issues Charvil is blessed with an enviable connection to the natural environment through its proximity to Charvil Country Park and Charvil Meadows and the wider countryside. Also valued are the landscape settings of Charvil set as it is at the confluence of the Loddon and Thames River valleys, adjacent to the lakes at Charvil Country Park and the in view of the local Bowsey and Ashley Hills and the more distant Chilterns. The Neighbourhood Plan residents survey in 2021 clearly highlighted the above issues and challenges and has allowed focus on key themes many of which can be addressed or influenced through policies presented in this plan.

This plan is a formal and positive plan for development which allows communities to shape the local area in a way which suits their local needs. It can cover a single issue or a range of issues depending on what is important to the community. Neighbourhood planning will allow communities to work through their local Parish Council to identify for example where they think any possible new homes should go, how transport and highways can be improved, which areas need improving and what should be protected. However, the Neighbourhood Plan must broadly conform with Wokingham Borough Council’s Local Plan and the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework.

The Charvil Neighbourhood Plan will set out a vision for the future of the village and its surrounding countryside, providing a strategy and land-use planning framework to guide development within the neighbourhood plan area for the next 15 years. The Plan has been developed through extensive consultation with the people of Charvil village and others with local interest. As well as informing optimum land allocation policies for the village the plan will also highlight projects that can be pursued by the Parish Council to meet the aspiration of the community, these plans will be aligned with and supported by policies proposed in the plan.

Following the Regulation 14 Consultation (details below), the plan has been updated based on respondent feedback. Copies of the updated plan and a report on the Consultation can be found here:

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Neighbourhood (Pre-Submission) Plan: Regulation 14 Consultation

The draft of the Charvil Neighbourhood Plan was completed in early 2025. Its vision, objectives and policies have been formed through extensive engagement with residents and with reference to the Wokingham local plan and national planning policies. Before submitting the plan, it is required that this pre-draft version is made available for review.  This provides all residents, businesses and other organisations with an interest the opportunity to comment.

Charvil Parish Council gave notice under Regulation 14 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 that the Charvil Neighbourhood Plan was out for pre-submission public consultation. The consultation period ran from Monday 3rd March 2025 to Thursday 17th April 2025 and the closing date for representations was 5pm on Thursday 17th April 2025.

Hard copies of the draft plan were available at our drop in events, or could be viewed at Twyford & Woodley libraries during the Regulation 14 Consultation period.

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How Can I Comment on the Neighbourhood Plan?

The deadline for submitting comments under Regulation 14 was 5pm on Thursday 17th April 2025.

The draft plan, with feedback comments from local residents, has been submitted to Wokingham Borough Council to commence the Regulation 15 process. Residents will have further opportunities to comment on this in late summer / early autumn 2025.

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How Can I View the Neighbourhood Plan Online?

The full Regulation 14 draft plan can be viewed below. The updated version for Regulation 15 (May 2025) can be found above.

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