Homes at beauty spot included in council plan

A proposal to build homes on a beauty spot opposed by at least 2,000 people has been included in a council's strategy for future development.

West Berkshire Council's Local Plan, which outlines where major development should take place, was reviewed to ensure it is up to date until 2041.

The Liberal Democrats who control the authority had wanted to scrap the Local Plan in 2023 but the then Conservative government stopped that taking place.

Pincents Hill, a field and nature area between Savacentre in Calcot and City Road in Tilehurst, has been allocated for 138 homes.

There have been three major attempts by developers to build on Pincents Hill but they failed because the site was not allocated for development.

But the plan, including building on Pincents Hill, was approved by West Berkshire councillors on 10 June.

Of those, 22 voted in favour of changing the plan, 13 voted against and one Conservative councillor, Dennis Bennyworth, abstained.

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