Neighbours who campaigned against a plan for a new Lidl and homes in Lower Earley are celebrating what is thought to be the final defeat for the scheme.

Last December, a plan to build a Lidl and 43 homes off Meldreth Way in Lower Earley was refused by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee.

The committee rejected it unanimously, agreeing that the development would have an ‘overbearing’ impact on neighbours.

There were fears that the developers, Lower Earley Properties, would appeal against the refusal, however the deadline for an appeal has passed and no appeal has been lodged.

READ MORE: Call for Swallows Meadow in Earley to be protected after Lidl and homes plan fail  

Councillor Andrew Mickleburgh (Liberal Democrats, Hawkedon) said: “We’ve been waiting to see if the developers would appeal against the decision. 

“The deadline for an appeal has now passed! We would like to thank all the many residents who rallied to reject this inappropriate development.

“We hope that this land will eventually be made part of a proposal, already submitted to Wokingham Borough Council, for a designated wildlife area beside Lower Earley Way, all the way from Showcase roundabout to Pearman’s Copse.

“We are now focusing our efforts to try to help achieve this.”

Cllr Mickleburgh announced the news on the Earley Residents Discussion Board, a public Facebook page, in a joint statement by him fellow Liberal Democrat Hawkedon representatives cllrs Clive Jones and David Hare.

READ MORE: Campaigners believe new 'Earley and Woodley' MP seat would be three way political battleground 

Reacting to the news, Michael Finan said: “I was convinced that the developers would get their own way. I’m glad I was proved wrong.

“Well done to everyone involved in stopping the development. My faith in the local council is restored.”

Fellow commenter Debbie Thomas said: “This is such good news well done everyone involved.”

There are hopes the land, known as Swallows Meadow to neighbours, could be protected from development by being designated as ‘local green space’.

Reading Chronicle: What 'Swallows Meadow' in Lower Earley looked like during a site visit in Winter 2021. Credit: Councillor Pauline JorgensenWhat 'Swallows Meadow' in Lower Earley looked like during a site visit in Winter 2021. Credit: Councillor Pauline Jorgensen

A ribbon of protected green space from Showcase to Pearmans Copse has been proposed as part of the Wokingham Local Plan update.

Although the future of the Local Plan is uncertain following the local elections, which saw a Liberal Democrat led coalition take over Wokingham Borough, local Liberal Democrats have voiced their commitment to protecting Swallows Meadow.

READ MORE: Neighbours in Earley indifferent over Reading's failed city status bid 

The developers, Lower Earley Properties, is a subsidiary of Janson Property.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Janson Property whether it was still in partnership to deliver a Lidl to the greater Reading area, but the company declined to comment.

Reading Chronicle: An overhead view of what the Lidl and 43 homes development would look like if it was approved. Credit: DHA ArchitectureAn overhead view of what the Lidl and 43 homes development would look like if it was approved. Credit: DHA Architecture

In April this year, Lidl announced plans to open three new stores in the Reading area, adding to the four the supermarket already has.

A new Lidl could be built in Shinfield, as council officers assured the planning committee in October last year that a new supermarket will be built and Lidl will be the likely operators.