Planning application submitted for Loddon Garden Village
05 November 2025
The University of Reading has submitted a hybrid planning application for part of the land within the proposed Loddon Garden Village, a new community that will bring together homes, schools, jobs and community facilities.
Wokingham Borough Council will now begin its statutory public consultation, alongside a detailed review of the application by planning officers.
Residents are encouraged to take part in this process, share their views and help shape the future of Loddon Garden Village. The University of Reading and neighbouring landowners, Gleeson Homes and Hatch Farm Land Ltd are committed to working collaboratively with the local community on the project. Two further planning applications, due to be submitted by Gleeson Land and Hatch Farm Land Ltd, are expected to follow in the coming months.
The submission, compiled by Savills on behalf of the University of Reading, follows extensive pre-application discussions with Wokingham Borough Council and a wide-reaching programme of community engagement earlier this year. It included public exhibitions, meetings, and discussions, with invitations sent to more than 10,000 local households, groups and businesses.
The application for Loddon Garden Village has been updated following this consultation. Key features of the application include:
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Affordable homes: Up to 2,800 new homes, with 40% allocated as affordable through below-market rent and shared ownership schemes.
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Green spaces: More than 125 hectares of open space, including an innovative new park, gardens and sports facilities, including an indoor Sports Hub.
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Custom and self-build: Dedicated plots to encourage design and home ownership.
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Education: Two new primary schools and one secondary school, with space for future expansion to meet demand, alongside early years provision, ensuring families have access to high-quality education close to home.
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Community amenities: A vibrant District Centre and two Local Centres offering shops, services, a healthcare centre and a supermarket.
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Environmental commitment: A 20% biodiversity net gain, enhancing habitats and wildlife and providing green corridors for nature, walkers and cyclists.
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Connectivity: New pedestrian and cycle routes, public transport priority corridors and new bridges over the M4 and River Loddon to improve connections.
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Infrastructure: Sustainable drainage systems, full-fibre broadband and a new electricity substation to support village infrastructure.
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Respect for heritage: Landscape buffers and green corridors to protect existing communities and heritage sites.
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Local employment: Around 3,450 new jobs expected to be created on-site, supporting long-term economic growth.
The application sets the framework for future development. If approved, detailed applications for individual parcels of land will follow as the project progresses.
The proposals will also be discussed at the upcoming Local Plan Inquiry, beginning this month, where their alignment with Wokingham’s long-term planning strategy will be considered.
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said:
"The University of Reading has been part of the local community for a century, and we will continue to play our part here in the century ahead. Loddon Garden Village is designed with local people at its heart. We’re proud to bring forward a plan that supports families, protects nature and provides facilities for generations to come.
“With plans already underway for new University agricultural facilities at our new farm nearby, we look forward to continuing our education and research here long into the future.”
Philip Brown, Planning Director, Savills Reading, said:
“This application is the culmination of more than four years of collaborative work and consultation to develop a scheme that will deliver much-needed new homes, including affordable provision, alongside new infrastructure, services and facilities to the benefit of existing local communities, and new residents of Loddon Garden Village.”
To learn more and participate in the consultation, please visit Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal. The planning application reference number is 252498.
Image credit: Savills Urban Design
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