A Neighbourhood Plan
for Sonning
Our chance to develop a shared vision for the future of the Thameside village of Sonning
Draft Version of the Plan
Download the Draft of our Sonning Neighbourhood Plan v2.23, issued February 2023.
Please note that this is a working document so it will change. Frequently.
The Draft Plan was last updated on: February 27th 2023
How to comment on the Plan......
This is now closed but we thank the residents of Sonning who responded for their time and for all the helpful suggestions.
By email
Send an email to comments@sonning.info.
By post
Write your thoughts in a letter and pop it through the Parish Council letterbox at Pearson Hall.
Online form
Open day
Was held on Saturday November 5th, in Pearson Hall where people were invited to meet members of the Steering Group, ask questions, discuss the options and let us know what they felt about the Plan.
You are not expected to comment on every aspect of the Plan, though you are very welcome to do so, but it would be helpful to us if you would identify the particular section you are referring to. For example, Housing 6.1 if it's a comment on housing in general, or Housing 6.1 Policy SNP/HOU1 if you would like to comment on the particular Policy for the Number of Dwellings to be allocated. Thank you.
News - October 2022
All Sonning households will shortly receive a Summary of the draft Neighbourhood Plan for Sonning
Open Day for Sonning Residents in Pearson Hall
on November 5th (11am - 5pm)
to meet members of the Steering Group, ask questions,
discuss the options and let us know what you think.
A high resolution version of the Map of Sonning Parish, showing the designated Plan and the Conversation areas,
can be downloaded by clicking here. NB it is 10Mb.
News - September 2022
The first draft (v2.1) of our Sonning Neighbourhood Plan is now available to download:
Sonning Neighbuorhood Plan v2.1
This is a draft and it will frequently change so please check the top of the this page for the latest version.
News - January 2022
WBC Local Plan Update including Local Green Space Allocation
Make your comments by 24th January 2022
As part of the Local Plan Update: Revised Growth Strategy, Wokingham Borough Council have published their suggestions of sites for building development over the next sixteen years. Included in this Local Plan are designations for Local Green Spaces which "allows communities to identify and protect green areas of particular importance".
Housing Development
We encourage all residents to let WBC know your thoughts about their LPU proposals for building development. Use this link: engage.wokingham.gov.uk
The consultation now runs until 24th January 2022 (the final date stated on the WBC leaflet has been put back a week) but you haven't got long!
Local Green Spaces
Wokingham Borough Council have asked for residents' opinions about new Local Green Spaces as part of their Local Plan Update. It is a shame that, as yet, they haven't selected any sites within our parish.
An area of land can be designated as Local Green Space if it fulfills these criteria:
- in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;
- demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife; and
- local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.
Key to Possible Local Green Spaces
1. King George V's Playing Fields
2. SPC Allotments
3. Sonning Wharf
4. Thames Path (from TVP to River Loddon)
5. Berks County Sports Club
6. Readingensians
7. Reading Hockey & Cricket Club
8. Reading Rugby F.C.
9. Reading Bluecoat School
10. Sonning Golf Club
11. Reading University Farmland
12. Holme Park Farm
News - December 2021
WBC Local Plan Update
Make your comments by 24th January 2022
The LPU: Revised Growth Strategy has been issued by Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) for consultation following the loss of Grazeley as a new town site. This revised LPU incorporates three of the development sites in Sonning that were listed in our questionnaire, Site 1 (Bull Close) and Sites 5 & 8, now combined (Sonning Golf Course).
The consultation now runs until 24th January 2022 (the final date stated on the WBC leaflet has been put back a week) and all residents have been asked to submit their thoughts: Site 1 (25 houses) has been in the earlier Local Plans for some years and Site 5 (13 houses) has already received planning permission on appeal, so the only additional site being proposed at this stage is the expanded Site 5 (renamed Site 8 and now with 24 houses).
Click for Full Details
News - July 2021
A FANTASTIC RESPONSE!
Thank you to everyone who completed their questionnaires
We had a resounding response. We received one (and sometimes more than one) completed questionnaire
from over 53% of the households in the parish. In all a total of 364 forms.
So a hearty thank you from all of us.
We are currently compiling all the data and then we have to analyse it, so there will undoubtedly be a quieter time while we get to grips with the spreadsheets.
Also many thanks to everyone who indicated on the questionnaire that they would like to be a part of this important task.
We hope to be able to organise a meeting later in the summer for everyone involved.
News - May 2021
We had responses from over half the homes in the Parish!
Currently a total of 354 completed questionnaires
We'd sincerely like to thank all of you who have taken time to read and complete our rather long but worthwhile survey.
And if there are any of you who still have to get your form to us then please don't delay - it's not too late but please do it soon.
It's very encouraging to be able to report that we are receiving quite a number of completed questionnaires.
Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to respond.
If you've not yet completed yours - either the paper copy or digitally using this link - it's not too late to do so.
We need your input to create a Neighbourhood Plan for Sonning.
Let us know what's important to you and help shape the future of our community.
YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS TO COMPLETE YOURS
Thank you.
News - April 2021
After many months of development we now have a questionnaire that will be delivered to all Sonning residents in the next few weeks. It's good timing since it coincides with the easing of lockdown and our distribution team will be able to deliver it by hand and, if the opportunity arises, have a chat with people about how important this is to the future of our Parish and why we really need everybody to complete a questionaire.
News - November 2020
The Steering Group has had a number of meetings in the last few months and we are currently developing a questionnaire that will be distributed to all households early in the new year. It will enable you to give your views on what you feel makes our neighbourhood special and what you would like to see for the future of Sonning.
We have divided ourselves into teams to make sure that we cover all apsects of a Neighbourhood Plan:
| Historic Environment & Conservation Area | Mike Hart & Gordon Jones |
| Housing Development | Mark Saunders, Matt Belk & Rory Herdman |
| Landscape & Environment | Nigel Borshell, Alastair Driver & Paul Etherington |
| Social & Community | Rebecca Bullard & Ruth Belk |
| Transport & Infrastructure | Trefor Fisher, Tony Farnese & Bob Hulley |
| Liason with WBC & Local Plan | Bob Hine & Lesley Bates |
| Finance & Grants | Peter Morrison & Tim Pascal |
| Chairman | Jeremy Gilmore |
At the moment we’re looking for people who would be willing to read and comment on a draft questionnaire that we’ll be inviting everyone in the village to complete. We want to make sure that the questions on the questionnaire reflect the interests and experiences of as many people as possible in this village.
You don’t need any special qualifications at all. We’re looking for as diverse a group of Sonning residents as possible. Whether you’ve been here six months or sixty years, we will want to hear your views.
Please do get in touch [] if you are able to help. Thank you.
Thank You
The Sonning Parish Council and Sonning & Sonning Eye Society joint steering group would like to thank everyone who turned out to the public Neighbourhood Plan meeting in Sonning on Tuesday evening, 18th February 2020. The interest was considerable and apologies to those who had to squeeze in and stand. The presentation is available below for you to review in more detail and especially for those who were not able to attend.
If you would like to be kept informed of our progress please sign up below, and do please let us know if you would be willing to volunteer to help us develop this important project.
Be Informed
Minutes of Meetings etc
We will endeavour to keep everyone informed of our progress, particularly at the various milestones.
You can keep an eye on our progress by reading the minutes of our meetings.
A shared vision
A Neighbourhood Plan will let us create a shared vision for Sonning that will take account of all of our community.
Choose our future
We can decide the type of sustainable development (if any) that we need, what it should comprise, where it should be built.
Appropriate styles
Sonning is a long established Thameside village which attracts visitors from around the world and needs to be carefully looked after.
Legal standing
A Neighbourhood plan has legal standing and will guide the planning authorities on all future building applications by developers.
Slides from the Public Meeting
Contact Us
Keep informed - sign up
About Us
The joint steering group comprises members of Sonning Parish Council and the Sonning & Sonning Eye Society together with volunteers from the local community.