Housing reprieve relief for neighbours

Alex Gore • Published 22 Jan 2010 12:35 0 Comments

A LIST of preferred development sites in West Berkshire which excludes under threat land in Theale and Tilehurst has been approved.

West Berkshire Council unanimously voted in favour of the core strategy which aims to meet the Government-imposed housing target of building 10,500 homes in the district from 2006-26, of which 2,275 are already built and 2,228 have planning permission.

The strategy says that 2,450 homes could be built at Newbury Racecourse and Sandleford Park, Newbury, and that 500 should be spread Tilehurst, Calcot, Purley, Pangbourne and Theale, but does not earmark Pincents Hill Tilehurst, or Theale's Whitehart Meadow.

Council member for the strategy, Alan Law, said the remaining 1,280 homes could be spread across smaller sites within existing settlements, and added: "I wanted to protect this area not just for my grandchildren but for my grandchildren's grandchildren.

"We have in West Berkshire the prosperity and living standards of the south east and the more relaxed living style of the south west. I hope this helps us maintain that vision."

Birch Copse councillor Joe Mooney, who has openly opposed the Blue Living plan to build up to 750 homes on Pincents Hill, said: "I'm delighted for Birch Copse and the people of Tilehurst but we still have a planning application to deal with."

Last night's council meeting may have ended in cross-party consensus, but was adjourned within minutes of starting after the Lib Dems said the strategy did not take account of the most up to date figures on how many homes have already been built or have outstanding planning approval.

Cllr Royce Longton also called for sites which could potentially become available and present a more suitable development option than Newbury Racecourse or Sandleford Park to be added, including the Institute of Animal Health, Compton, Faraday Plaza, Newbury, and Denison Barracks, Hermitage.

Both amendments were accepted by the Tory administration and following the restart, Cllr Longton said: "I think we have now got a very acceptable proposal for the future development of this area of the world."

The strategy also sets out the council's affordable policy, which includes making 30% of development of 15 or more homes affordable built on previously developed land and 40% if on a greenfield site. A 30% is imposed on developments of 10-14 homes and 20% for 5-9 home builds.

The core strategy, complete with updated figures and potential new development sites, will be subject to a six week public consultation at the beginning of February.

It will then be scrutinised by a Government planning inspector and if deemed acceptable will return to West Berkshire Council for approval in the autumn.

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