We have just celebrated our 99th birthday as a University. (Yes, there was cake.) At such a milestone, we can reflect on how much has changed over nearly a century in Wokingham and Reading boroughs.
One driver of change we continue to face today is the need for homes. Last month, we shared more details about plans for a new 3,930-home garden village community in Wokingham borough, Loddon Garden Village, largely on the site of what is currently the University’s
Hall Farm – home to our superb commercial and research farms and part of our School of Agriculture, Policy and Development.
This would help deliver new homes and services for Wokingham borough. It would also have a big impact on the people and the work of the University, and on the local community. As a world leader in research and study, and as a key part of our local community,
we need to manage change carefully with our partners. We are currently the highest rated University in the UK for food and farming in global university rankings, and we want to invest in world-class farm facilities to get even better.
It is important that big changes like this are made in consultation with our neighbours, our partners, and with our own colleagues and students to understand their views and concerns.
As part of this discussion, last week we held three public consultation events in Shinfield, Arborfield and at our Whiteknights campus. We launched the Loddon Garden Village website, where the plans can be seen in more detail. We’ve also been holding meetings
with local representatives and key groups.
I have been encouraged, and not surprised, by the strong levels of positive engagement and passion shown by our community. People in this area are proud of our home. They understand that new homes are needed, while also wanting to protect what they love. I
was pleased that over the three recent events, 300 people joined us to express their views and find out about a vision which is about more than just new homes.
We want Loddon Garden Village to have a positive impact for local people and our environment. From the plans for a large 200-hectare country park, which will become the largest in Wokingham, to three new schools, business spaces and transport upgrades, our
vision is comprehensive.
The feedback we have received so far during the public consultation has been invaluable. People shared insights and ideas about infrastructure, the environment, housing needs, and community aspirations. We were happy to be able to reassure people about our
plans to maintain open space – especially in areas which are most at risk of flooding – and to conserve and improve wildlife habitats.
Our public consultation remains open until 21 April and I would encourage anyone who wishes to comment on the plans to have your say. You can view plans on the
Loddon
Garden Village website, including an interactive map of the site, where you can directly provide feedback linked to points on the map. Or you can post, email or phone in your views.
We will carefully review all feedback and put forward everyone’s ideas and perspectives to Wokingham Borough Council, as part of a planning application later this year. Of course, I am always happy to hear from you. Please contact me on any topic relevant to
the University at any time.
By Robert Van de Noort – Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading
