Cold Ash Neighbourhood Development Plan adopted

The Cold Ash Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been adopted.

From the votes recorded, 680 voted 'Yes' to the NDP, and 59 voted 'No'.

The turnout of electors was 27 per cent.

The plan’s policies recognise the assets within the parish, many of which are the result of it being among the highest points in Berkshire.

These include policies on iconic views, open green space, biodiversity and the blue and green infrastructure, and dark skies.

“Our policies on heritage cover protection of assets, which include key buildings and our sunken lanes,” says the plan.

“We intend to use these policies to assess development within the parish as well as the potential impact on the parish from neighbouring, adjacent, or nearby developments.

“To handle the varying design considerations of the different areas of the parish, we have identified three distinct zones: Villages Zone – comprising the villages of Cold Ash and Ashmore Green, each with their own distinctive characteristics; Urban Fringe Zone – comprising the more urbanised areas found on the outskirts of the parish, which adjoin Thatcham (Southend and Florence Gardens) and Newbury (Manor Park). These areas are essentially part of those larger conurbations; Rural Zone – comprising land within the parish but located outside the other zones, where little to no development is expected to take place.

"If exceptional approval is given, then the design principles for the Villages Zone would apply.”