MORE than 200 new homes got the go ahead for building at a council planning meeting Wednesday night (November 14).

It was revealed that 69 of these new homes would be made affordable as part of housing plans in Arborfield and Finchampstead.

Planning permission has already been granted for 1,500 homes at Hogwood Farm, Finchampstead and 2,000 homes at Arborfield Garrison and the approved plans mean 178 and 37 new homes respectively have been given the go-ahead for the start of building.

More than a third of the 178 Finchampstead homes will be affordable, matching the council’s 35 per cent target.

Councillor Carl Doran said: “Everybody knows my big bug bear is affordable housing. I am delighted we have 35% affordable housing on site. It fits what we need. I'm very happy with it."

However only seven of the 37 homes set to be built on land to the east of Princess Marina Drive in Arborfield Garrison will be affordable, with developers contributing more money to build affordable housing off-site.

Cllr Doran added: “Compared to the other planning application, I wish it could have been a bit better. I prefer (on-site) houses to the cash.

“There are no three bedroom houses that are affordable. We can do better.”

Cllr Wayne Smith said the design of the houses in Arborfield looked “awful” (pictured above) and were not what he expected.

Planning committee members Cllr John Jarvis and Angus Ross raised their concerns about electricity demands at the Finchampstead site as proposals showed plans to install electric car charging points at several of the 396 car parking spaces.

But a housing officer said the introduction of electric cars would be gradual and accounting for power demands was more of a “national issue than a local issue.”

The decisions were made at a Wokingham Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, November 13.