The Draft Plan is available to view here

Please click on the link below to complete the Residents' Feedback Form by Friday 26 November 2021:

https://online1.snapsurveys.com/scnprevised

BACKGROUND
The Sonning Common Neighbourhood Development Plan (SCNDP) has been updated to keep it current and in accordance with other local and national planning policies.

A six-week public consultation on the draft Plan is underway and will close on Wednesday 01 December 2021.

The Neighbourhood Plan Working Party has been forced to reduce the scope of the Plan's revision due to circumstances beyond its control - namely the appeal decision in June 2021 by a planning inspector to grant permission for 133 retirement apartments to be built on a site known as Little Sparrows off Blounts Court Road.  
Following the appeal decision proposed allocations in the revised Plan were significantly modified to take account of the fact that the target of around 100 extra homes for Sonning Common - put forward by South Oxfordshire District Council - was more than covered by the Little Sparrows' planning permission.
Had it been possible to finish the Plan's revision and to have had it fully approved before the Little Sparrows public inquiry, the inspector would have been forced to consider it more seriously. And that is why the completion of the revised Plan is so important.
It will give the village some protection against future speculative development.

RECORD YOUR VIEWS
Comments on the draft Plan are being invited from Sonning Common residents, businesses, landowners, neighbouring parishes, local authorities, the police, utility suppliers and other relevant statutory consultees.
Following the public consultation all comments received will be reviewed by the Neighbourhood Plan working party and the draft Plan amended as appropriate. The draft Plan will be then submitted for independent analysis by a Government-appointed neighbourhood plan examiner who will ensure that it is compliant with relevant legislation. The results of this examination are due to be available early in 2022.

The updated version of the Plan is also available to consult at:
1. Parish Office, Village Hall, Wood Lane, Sonning Common RG4 9SL
Please phone 0118 972 3616 to make an appointment first
2. Sonning Common Library, Grove Road, RG4 9RH
Tel: 0118 972 2448

Comments on the draft Plan may be emailed to: ndp@sonningcommonparishcouncil.gov.uk

Or submitted in writing to: 
Parish Office (address above). The Parish Office post box is in the right-hand side of the Village Hall door. (The office is open from 0930 to 1230 every Monday).
And Heath and Watkins hardware shop, Wood Lane.

Printed copies of the Residents' Feedback Form are available from the Parish Office and Heath and Watkins. Please return the form to either location by Friday 26 November so that your comments can be collated and analysed in time. 

A public exhibition summarising the draft Plan took place in the Village Hall on Saturday 06 November. View the exhibition materials here.
Thank you for your valued support.

The Draft Sonning Common Neighbourhood Development Plan

Regulation 14 Statement

Privacy Policy

I am delighted to be elected Chairman of the Sonning Common Parish Council at what is a very important time for our village as it continues to grow. Accordingly the Parish Office has adapted to the needs of the community and the introduction of the two new committees, Parks and Recreation, and Village and Environment will enable the Council to drive matters forward to ensure our every increasing facilities support the needs of our community.

We need to protect the integrity of the neighbourhood plan from threats such as inappropriate development and the proposed Reading third bridge recognizing that we live in an area or outstanding natural beauty.

The current Memorial Park development is an example of a project where the community has been fully engaged and as we move forward we will continue to engage the residents of Sonning Common so that we continue to meet the needs of our community.

Michael Cann
Chairman of the Parish Council