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.
West Berkshire Council will not have its fingers burned over 2,500-home Thatcham proposal
Town council concerned over repeat of Newbury s Sandleford Park
John Herring
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A SENIOR West Berkshire Council officer has said the council “will not have its fingers burned again” over plans for thousands of homes.
The fields at north east Thatcham have been put forward by a consortium of land owners and developers, including Donnington New Homes, The Wasing Estate, A2Dominion and Ptarmigan Land.
Speaking at last week’s meeting, Richard Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central) said he feared a repeat of the ongoing situation at Sandleford Park in Newbury.
1,000 home Sandleford development in Newbury to be decided by appeal
District council cites 14 reasons to reject latest application from developer
John Herring
A PLANNING inquiry will determine if 1,000 homes will be built at Sandleford Park.
Bloor Homes and Sandleford Homes Partnership has appealed against West Berkshire Council refusing its scheme to build the homes off Monks Lane last year.
Sandleford was adopted for up to 2,000 homes in the council’s core strategy in 2012 and half of the homes were expected to be built by 2026.
The council has included Sandleford in its Local Plan Review for up to 1,000 homes and now assumes a contribution of 200 homes by 2026.