Compton's Neighbourhood Development Plan team urge residents of the West Berkshire village to vote yes in referendum

Volunteers from Compton’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) are urging Compton residents to vote yes to the plan at next week’s referendum.

The referendum will take place on Thursday (February 10) and its outcome will decide whether the NDP will move forward and guide Compton’s development up until 2037.

A key pillar of the NDP is the re-development of the former site of the Pirbright Institute, which has been vacant since the animal testing centre permanently closed its doors in 2015.

Volunteer Chris Smith said: “It means everybody in Compton has a say over the development of the village over the next 15 years of which the Institute site is a big part.”

The proposals set out in the NDP include the building of approximately 140 new homes on the Pirbright site, which could see Compton’s population increase by around 20 per cent.

The Pirbright site also contains significant community and green space, which the NDP seeks to retain and improve upon.

Other elements of the NDP include restricting development in open countryside, the redevelopment of a student hostel complex into flats and the conservation of the cricket ground.

A presentation of the Compton Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will also take place next week.

Residents can find out more details about the plan at the event, organised by Compton Parish Council, ahead of the referendum.

Mr Smith will give the presentation at the Wilkins Centre, Burrell Road, Compton at 1.30pm on Tuesday, February 8.

The referendum will take place on Thursday, February 10, also in the Wilkins Centre.