A Berkshire town could see around 1,300 more new homes built than originally planned after a councillor was told it had under-provisioned housing in a key plan.
West Berkshire Council wanted to abandon its development plan, which sets out the construction projects up to 2041, but was told it had to keep it and amend it instead.
A government-appointed planning inspector told the council that up to 2,500 homes could be built on a site in north-east Thatcham, instead of the 1,500 originally planned.
The authority’s deputy head, Denise Gaines, said this, along with the construction of additional homes to cover the deficit at four other sites – including two in Thatcham – was a “very bitter pill to swallow”.
All municipalities must have a development plan and review it every five years to ensure that there is sufficient housing, building land and infrastructure.
The inspector informed the council that there was a shortfall of around 850 homes compared to the need to build at least 9,270 new homes in West Berkshire by 2041.
The Council made the following proposals:
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Around 225 new homes on a site near Henwick Park in Thatcham
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About 45 houses near the Regency Park Hotel in Thatcham
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Approximately 138 houses on a site in Pincents Lane in Tilehurst
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About 25 houses north of Pangbourne Hill in Pangbourne
These locations were consulted when the development plan was submitted to the authority, but were not initially pursued further.
Councillor Gaines said the council was “very reluctant to re-propose these sites, but had no choice because the government would very likely take over the planning process if we did not intervene at this time”.
She added: “We believe these decisions should be made by your local council and not in Westminster, but this is a very bitter pill to swallow.”
She said working with the inspector and proposing sites meant the council could “continue to speak on behalf of local residents and do what needs to be done in their interests”.
Barry Dickens, leader of Bucklebury Parish Council, said the largest proposed site in Thatcham was “unsustainable” for so many homes.
“The plan is to build a small town the size of Hungerford, northeast of Thatcham,” he added.
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