270 home Watermill Bridge development south of Newbury progresses through planning process

West Berkshire Council is being asked for its views on the road condition survey of a planned 270 home development south of Newbury.

The Watermill Bridge development – plans for which were put forward by Baughurst-based housing developer Bewley Homes – will be located just south of the county border in Hampshire, on a patch of land between the A34 and Andover Road.

Last July, a High Court judge upheld an inspector’s appeal decision after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council tried to stop the development.

Months before, the borough council had been given permission to proceed with a statutory review of the Planning Inspectorate’s earlier decision to allow the development’s appeal.

Previously West Berkshire councillor, David Marsh (Green, Newbury Wash Common), had said he was hopeful that the Watermill Bridge decision would be reversed in light of the 360-home Sandleford Park West development being given the green light.

Newbury Town Council had also objected to the application, saying it is an overdevelopment of the site and raising concerns about the external noise pollution caused by the A34, potential poor air quality from the A34 and that it is a development in a flood plain.

Bewley Homes first put forward the Watermill Bridge plans in November 2021.