Why do we need more housing?

DTZ's study of housing need estimated that there is a newly arising need for affordable housing of 670 dwellings per annum in West Berkshire up to 2026 alongside a current undersupply of 3,050 dwellings. This includes significant demand in West Berkshire, and much of this is in the east of the district. In response to this need, the South East Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy, May 2009) has set West Berkshire a minimum requirement of delivering 9,500 new homes within the applicable sub-region by 2026. Whilst there is debate about where and how this might be achieved, the need cannot be ignored or remain unmet.

West Berkshire Council has begun consultation on its draft LDF Core Strategy Preferred Options which sets out options for meeting the housing requirement in the east of the district, and includes among others the Pincents Hill site.

For further details, see the Pincents Hill outline planning application (Design and Access Statement: Context), available on the planning section of West Berkshire Council's website.