Published: Thursday, 19th November, 2009 12:00pm

Long-awaited Pincents Hill showdown cancelled

by Alex Gore

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NEXT month's long-awaited showdown on the controversial Pincents Hill plans has been cancelled.

Campaigners and developer Blue Living have been preparing to argue their opposing cases on the 750 home proposal at West Berkshire Council's eastern area planning committee meeting on Tuesday, December 16.

But the meeting, which had been scheduled to take place at 5.30pm at Little Heath School instead of its 6.30pm slot at the Calcot Centre in Highview to accommodate the large numbers expected to attend, has been called off to allow the developer more time to address concerns raised by the Highways Agency.

West Berkshire's senior planning officer, Dave Pearson said: "The applicants have sought more time to consider the highways implications and we are therefore not in a position to make a recommendation to the committee.

"The Highways Agency are seeking more information from the applicants and this will allow them more time to supply it."

Mr Pearson added that the application is expected to come before the committee in February or March next year, which offers fresh hope to campaigners who have been calling on the council to set its overall planning strategy for the district, the Local Development Framework (LDF), before considering the proposal.

The 37 acre site is listed as the number one option for providing up to 900 homes in the east of the district in a draft list of preferred development sites, which is due to be fed into the LDF when it is finalised at the beginning of next year.

Reading West MP Martin Salter said: "It's blatantly clear to me that Blue Living were trying to jump the gun and pre-empt the LDF. The problem my constituents have is they have been badly let down by West Berkshire Council.

"In many ways it would be far better if we could get Pincents Hill excluded from the list of sites earmarked for development before we look at any specific applications and perhaps this deferral will give us that window of opportunity."

He added: "I think Blue Living's transport plans are fundamentally flawed and am not at all surprised the highways agency have raised concerns. Giving them extra time to address this is not an issue. I would rather get the LDF in the right place to strengthen our hand."