Land east of Hayes Drive and north of Church Lane, Three Mile Cross, Reading, Berkshire

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the development upon the character and appearance of the countryside
• The effect upon surface drainage
• The safety and wellbeing of future residents of the proposed development, and the wider public, with regard to the proximity of the Atomic Weapons Establishment site at Burghfield (AWE(B))
• The future capability and capacity of AWE(B) to operate effectively

What decided it

The unacceptable risk to the future capability and capacity of AWE(B) to operate effectively, given its critical importance to national security, was found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme.

Very significant weight to housing and affordable housing delivery, plus smaller benefits, was weighed against very substantial weight attached to risk to AWE(B)'s operational capability, substantial weight to risk to residents' safety and wellbeing, significant weight to countryside harm, and great weight to heritage harm; the adverse impacts were found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, so the balance tipped against the proposal.