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Dec 24 - Jan 25 WBC Public Consultation

Response to the Local Plan consulation.

BPC's final response to the Local Plan modifications consultation, which was submitted to WBC on the 31st January is as follows:

Response to Local Plan consultation

BPC's final response to the Local Plan consultation which completed on the 31st January is as follows:

BPC have produced a response to the Local Plan consultation which is attached below and to help parishioners a summary of the key points to consider in are detailed below. 

Some comments to aid those responding to the Main Mods consultation

  • The increase of the dwellings allocated for the site to 2,500
    • There is no indication of how the increase will be accommodated but we are assuming that it will need to come closer to Upper Bucklebury.
    • Significant increase in highways impact when 1,500 was already found to be harmful
  • Indication in allocation plan of access onto Harts Hill – meaning a potential rat run through UB for access to M4 J12,J13 and the Common.
  • Significant ambiguity around delivery of community infrastructure in terms of education and health facilities. Potential for these to have to be provided off-site further increasing car journeys.
  • Many areas of mitigation / impact / delivery / design left to Masterplanning process. Little reassurance to date from WBC on how this will be carried out.
  • Already concerns around how WBC has sought to engage with parish councils as part of the main modifications with invites to a meeting just 7 working days  before the end of the main modifications consultation. No PC councillors were permitted to attend the meeting in person.
  • Significant concern over potential harm to biodiversity resulting from development of the site. BPC proved that ecology surveys and evidence base were incorrect and outdated to support 1,500 dwellings. No updates have been undertaken to support an increase in dwellings or even for any development.
  • Significant impact on the setting of the National Landscape (AONB as was) as a result of increase in dwellings.
  • Lack of update to assessment of impacts in the Sustainability Appraisal as a result of the increase in dwellings.

How can you comment?

  • Representations need to be made in writing, either by letter, WBC form or email.
  • You can either:
  • They are unable to accept anonymous representations so you must include your name and contact details 
  • Make it clear you are commenting on WBC Local Plan Main Modifications MM25 & MM26 
  • The consultation runs until Friday 31 January 2025 and we're encouraging residents to all have their say.

If you are unclear how to comment please talk to your local Parish Councillor.

Detailed extract documents - if you want to know more?

Attached below are two extract documents of the Main Modifications and the SA/SEA. Both are about 40 pages long. Within them are highlighted the parts that we think are most significant for comments - in terms of importance to residents and likely weight to the planning inspector.

We do need you to respond to the consultation please.

 

A public meeting was held at the Memorial Hall on 17th December 2024 for BPC to update parishioners and share the proposed BPC way forward. Slides attached. At the meeting Councillor Simon Pike from Thatcham Town Council offered to share his work on drafting a response to WBC regarding the main changes to the Local Plan Review. These are attached above to help you respond to the consultation..

Have your say on main changes to the Local Plan Review

Our public consultation on the main changes to the district’s Local Plan 2022- 2039 is now live.

The Local Plan sets out planned development for West Berkshire and guides decisions on future development proposals in line with the needs of the district.

The Public Examination stage began earlier this year with a number of public hearings – the last of which took place on 3 October 2024. During this process, the Planning Inspector required additional sites to be identified to address a shortfall in the number of houses to be delivered within the next five years. Consequently the Council put forward the following amendments and additions to the plan:

  • An increase in the number of homes in North East Thatcham from 1,500 to 2,500, including a masterplan Supplementary Planning Document 
  • Additional sites proposed for housing at: 
  • Henwick Park, Bowling Green Rd Thatcham – approximately 225 homes 
  • East of Regency Park Hotel Thatcham – approximately 45 homes 
  • Pincents Lane, Calcot – approximately 138 homes 
  • Land north of Pangbourne Hill Pangbourne – approximately 25 homes. 

These sites achieve the enhanced housing numbers the inspector expected to have in the Local Plan. 

The Government requires every Local Plan to be reviewed at least once every five years. Our current Local Plan sets out our planning policies up to 2026, and this latest review, if approved, will take us up to 2041.

Regularly reviewing the Local Plan ensures the Council will meet both the current and emerging housing needs of the district. It sets the strategy for distributing development and policies for protecting, conserving, and enhancing the natural built and historic environment.

Speaking about the Local Plan Review, Councillor Denise Gaines, Deputy Leader, and West Berkshire's Executive Member for Planning said, 

“We have now reached the next key milestone in the Local Plan process after a long and difficult journey. The council has been put in the most challenging position of being told to progress this plan by Central Government. We were ready to vote to withdraw the plan, but we were directed to proceed to examination by the Secretary of State. The sites identified in the main modifications are extremely contentious with many residents in West Berkshire, but we are in the invidious position of having to proceed to consultation.

 “If we do not continue to work with the Inspector then there is a very high probability that the development of the Plan will be taken over by Central Government and the Council will lose any influence and control over the process at considerable cost to our residents. 

“The Inspector now requires that we carry out a full public consultation on the main modifications which will give you, our communities, another opportunity to highlight your views and concerns to the Inspector.” 

The consultation runs until Friday 31 January 2025 and we're encouraging residents  have their say.

Following the consultation the Council will be able to make a brief written response to any submissions received. All submissions and the Council’s response will then be sent to the Inspector so that he can prepare his final report.

Bucklebury Parish Council Dec 24 - Jan 25 WBC Public Consultation