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Planning Protection

Local Development Framework (LDF)
The LDF, which will gradually supersede the WBC Local Plan, will not be prepared as a single document, but a number of separate documents that will be produced over a number of years. It will be valid to 2026. The programme for the production of the documents set in 2006 has had to be revised due to the government's rejection of the first core document. For the current schedule refer to this link to the WBC web site: More details...

The first document of the LDF is sometimes referred to as the 'Core Strategy Planning Document' (it is akin to a structure plan, but at the local level).
This is now called the West Berkshire Planning Strategy DPD (WBPS). This is the document that will outline the areas designated for the development of 10,500 new homes in West Berks up to 2026. Once adopted the WBPS recommendations will be binding. It was first issued in February 2006, and after initial and formal public consultations it was submitted for 'Public Examination' by the Inspector in September 2006. However, the Council had to withdraw this document because of concerns expressed by the Planning Inspectorate and the Government Office that the plan did not contain enough detail on the scale and location of development.
Place Manor, Wallingford Road 
WBC are now inviting us to comment on their revised "WBPS Core Strategy" document. The consultation period is 23/11/07 to 11/1/08. The following link shows you where to read the draft document and submit your comments. More...

The WBPS sets out the broad planning policies for further development, but does not include the fine detail. Specific housing site allocations in villages will not be defined in the WBPS. They will be defined in the 'Housing Sites Allocations DPD' and this will show the sites on map(s). Work by WBC on this document (i.e. selecting sites for housing inside or outside Settlement Boundaries) will start Summer - Autumn 2008, for adoption in August 2011. We understand it will be this period where we have the opportunity to comment on the proposals submitted by landowners for development of areas outside the Streatley Settlement Boundary.

The current housing allocation for "the rest of Berkshire" (effectively villages north of the M4 and some in the Inkpen area), is up to 100 houses per year. WBC consider this to be on the high side and will be making representations that this is not an appropriate level as it covers the AONB (which is treated as the same as a National Park).

We were told that the WBC will be proposing that the village Settlement Boundaries do not change in the short to medium term, and not before the adoption of the WBPS in 2010. Thus WBC propose that any proposed, and subsequently agreed, future development areas which would be currently outside the Local Plan Settlement Boundary, will still be shown outside the Settlement Boundary in the Housing Sites Allocations Section of the LDF final document. However before adoption any such areas would be subject to local agreement. WBC explained to us there would be ample opportunity for objection, with for example site notices being displayed for controversial changes. WBC felt the opportunity for eleventh hour submissions was now no longer available as any proposed changes included with comments would still have a comment period.

In time the Settlement Boundaries, for ALL West Berkshire settlements, will be reviewed and renewed, but no date was given for this activity.
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