A PLANNING inquiry is to be held into plans for 1,000 new homes on farmland which inspired Watership Down amid major opposition - including from its author before his death. Developers have been trying to build on Sandleford Park near Newbury since it was allocated for development in 2012 with five failed applications so far. In the iconic novel, rabbits flee Sandleford Warren, which is about to be destroyed by bulldozers. And in a real-life echo of the fictional children s classic, protesters have been fighting development and said protected habitats and ancient woodlands would be at risk if it was allowed to go ahead.
Sandleford Watership Down house-building inquiry opens
Published
image captionLinks to the novel Watership Down featured at an exhibition of the plans
Plans to build 1,000 new homes on farmland featured in the novel Watership Down will be debated at a planning inquiry.
Developers are appealing against West Berkshire District Council s decision to refuse the Sandleford Park scheme.
There have been five failed applications since the area was allocated for development by the authority in 2012.
Protesters have said protected habitats and ancient woodlands would be at risk.
Watership Down author Richard Adams campaigned in 2011 against developing what he called the most beautiful area south of Newbury .
A decade-long battle to stop 1,000 homes being built on the fields that inspired Watership Down is facing a final hurdle at an inquiry.
West Berkshire District Council has refused several applications to build on Sandleford Park in Newbury since plans were first unveiled in 2011.
Another application was rejected last year, prompting developers to appeal, with a Planning Inspectorate inquiry starting today. It is scheduled to last until May 28.
The woodland inspired Richard Adams to pen his children s classic - with the author fighting against proposals before his death in 2016.
Thousands of fans flock to Sandleford Warren each year to follow in the footsteps of the novel s gang of rabbits.