®Planning appeal decision
Sandleford Park, Newtown Road , Newbury , RG14 7RJ
Planning appeal 3265460 at Sandleford Park, Newtown Road , Newbury , RG14 7RJ (West Berkshire District Council) was allowed on 29 November 2021 by Inspector Coffey L, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Highway matters.
Outline planning permission, with all matters of detail reserved except access, for up to 1,000 new homes; 80 extra care housing units (Use Class C3) as part of affordable housing provision; a new 2 form entry primary school (D1); expansion land for Park House Academy School; a local centre comprising flexible commercial floorspace (A1-A5 up to 2,150 sq m, B1a up to 200 sq m) and D1 use (up to 500 sq m); new means of access onto Monks Lane; new open space including a country park; drainage infrastructure; walking and cycling infrastructure and other associated works
- Authority
- West Berkshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Coffey L
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Highway matters
- Provision for pedestrians and cyclists
- Character and appearance of the surrounding landscape
- Effect of the proposal on the trees, and ancient woodland on the site
- Direct and indirect effects on biodiversity
- Drainage Strategy
- Carbon emissions and renewable energy
- Air Quality
- Single Application
What decided it
The proposal's overall accordance with the development plan (as an allocated strategic housing site under Policy CS3), reinforced by the significant weight attached to housing delivery and economic benefits, decided the appeal in favour of allowing it.
The Secretary of State found the scheme accorded with the development plan as a whole and that material considerations, including significant weight for housing delivery and economic benefits and moderate/limited weight for other benefits, indicated a decision in line with the development plan, i.e. a grant of permission.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS 3Policy CS 4Policy CS 6Policy CS 16Policy CS 17Policy GS1Policy SP 12Policy SP 16
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 48Paragraph 55Paragraph 56Paragraph 57Paragraph 180
- Judgments
- Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL, 1982, P37]; Wessex Regional Health Authority v SSE [1984]; Wadehurst Properties v SSE & Wychavon DC [1990]; Breckland DC v SSE and T. Hill [1992]; R (on the application of Barker) v Bromley LBC [2007] 1 A.C.470
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.