A Statement Following the Western Area Planning Committee Meeting held on 23/02/22

Compton Parish Council is disappointed that the Western Area Planning Committee (WAPC) decision did not support its own Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Pirbright Institute site or the Compton Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), which the residents of Compton had so overwhelming voted for, and is the formal reference for the future evolution of the village as it sits within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

While WAP Committee members were quick to congratulate Compton residents on their success in delivering the NDP with, in fact, a higher than national average turn-out at its referendum, the committee ultimately voted to take the Planning Officers recommendation to approve the Homes England application for 160 homes, which goes against several of the policies within the NDP. The development site is approximately 7 hectares and will have a houses per hectare density greater than the rest of the village, with outline planning design favouring 4 – 5 bed homes.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is very clear on the definition of major development, as it is on the protection and enhancement of the AONB. Understanding this, Compton residents, backed by Compton Parish Council, have been focussed through the NDP on sympathetic redevelopment of the brown-field site within the village settlement. In particular, for a diverse design of housing, community assets and employment opportunity that would ensure a continued connected community.

The Parish Council was astonished by the admission of one Committee member that they had not read the NDP yet then proceeded to vote against it. The Government’s introduction of the Neighbourhood Planning regime was to shift away from top-down planning that excluded local people and communities, sadly the WAPC did not deliver on the Government vision.

Furthermore, the Parish Council remains concerned over the accountability of the safety of the total village, which includes a primary and secondary school, during what will be a prolonged period of decontamination of a site known to be used for biological and radiological research.

References:
• West Berkshire Council’s Pirbright Institute Site Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
• Compton Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP)
• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)