Sandleford Park development meeting scheduled

Outline plans to build 2,000 homes on the greenfield site are currently under public consultation until December 16

A MEETING for residents affected by a potential 2,000 home development at Sandleford Park will be held next month.

Outline plans to build 2,000 homes on the greenfield site, which runs parallel to Monks Lane down to the River Enborne, are currently under public consultation, which ends on December 16.

West Berkshire Council has identified a need to build 10,500 homes in the district by 2026 with many welcoming the plans which will help cut the affordable housing waiting list, which currently stands at 4,000.

However, concerns have been raised by some local councillors that south Newbury will suffer from over-development with the proposed plans at Sandleford Park and a potential 1,500 new homes at Newbury Racecourse.

At a meeting of Newbury Town Council's policy and resources committee earlier this month, district councillor Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Pyle Hill) proposed that the town council organise a meeting to inform Newbury residents of proposed plans at Sandleford Park.

It has now been announced that the meeting will be held at Newbury Rugby Club on December 7 at 7pm.

More details about the meeting are expected next week.

Mr Swift-Hook, who is leader of Newbury Town Council, said: "I do urge residents to take this opportunity to better understand how the Core Strategy may impact on them. They will then be in a good position to make valuable comments in response to the consultation and to assist the town council in the preparation of its response."

Newbury Town Council has allocated £500 to pay for the meeting.