PLANS to replace ageing research facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment were approved last night.

West Berkshire Council's planning committee gave the thumbs up to the proposal for the Aldermaston base, which will consolidate a number of buildings dotted around the site into a single, purpose built facility.

The development will be used for hydrodynamics research, which looks at how materials behave when subjected to severe pressure and temperatures.

Councillors were satisfied the new development will have improved safety conditions compared to the current facilities, which were built in the 1950s ad 60s.

Only one councillor, Lib Dem Alan Macro, voted against the plan. He said he was unhappy with such a facility being built so near a populated area.