Helping residents to better understand how planning decisions are made and how the local community can play a role in shaping the town’s future.
What is our role in planning?
When someone submits a planning application in Woodley, Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) is the planning authority and with legal responsibility for determining whether to approve or reject each application.
Woodley Town Council is a statutory consultee, meaning we are invited to review and comment on every planning application that affects our area. While we have no power with regards to the ultimate decision, our recommendations represent the voice of the local community and can influence outcomes.
We consider each application carefully, looking at factors such as traffic, parking, building design, local character, conservation, and environmental impact.
However, it is important that residents understand that our comments do not negate the need for residents to lodge their own personal comments on any application.
How much impact do we have?
During the 2024/25 municipal year, Woodley Town Council reviewed numerous applications submitted within the town. Out of these:
- 115 decisions made by Wokingham Borough Council were in line with our comments
- 112 applications were approved as we recommended
- 3 applications were refused following our objection
- Only 14 decisions went against our recommendations
- 3 applications were refused where we had raised no objection
- 11 were approved where we had raised concerns or objections.
This means Wokingham Borough Council agreed with our comments 89% of the time, demonstrating the value of our input in the process.
Your voice matters too
We strongly encourage residents to:
- Attend Planning & Community Committee meetings, especially if there is an application which affects your neighbourhood – these are open to the public and are a great opportunity to hear about current applications and share your views.
- Submit comments directly to Wokingham Borough Council – the final decisions rest with them, and your input can make a difference. You can comment online via their planning portal: Wokingham Borough Council Planning Portal
“Planning applications affect the way our town grows and evolves, and it’s so important that the voices of local residents are part of that process. While Woodley Town Council doesn’t make the final decision, our comments are considered seriously and, with nearly 90% of our recommendations aligning with Wokingham Borough Council’s decisions this year, it shows how impactful our local input can be. I strongly encourage residents to attend our meetings, share their views, and submit comments directly to the Borough Council. Your perspective really does matter,” said Cllr Bill Soane, Chair of the Planning & Community Committee, Woodley Town Council.
Get involved
Check our website and noticeboards for agendas, application summaries, and meeting dates. Engaging early in the planning process ensures that your voice is heard.