Blue Living submitted an application for outline planning permission for Pincents Hill in July 2009.

Pincents Hill is conceived as an urban extension in and of West Berkshire, attached to and fully integrated with Greater Reading.  It is proposed as a means of meeting housing need - with many of the homes being affordable - stimulating economic opportunity and providing a truly sustainable place and community for greener living and higher quality of life.  Pincents Hill provides a traditional solution to modern challenges; its form, street pattern, mix of uses and homes are designed according to time-honored principles, as seen in some of the finest places in West Berkshire, with the additional benefit of improved understanding of and commitment to contemporary environmental challenges and environmental technology.

Aerial view from the east

Six Oaks Square

The proposed changes to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East have set West Berkshire a mimimun requirement of delivering 10,500 new homes by 2026.  In the context of this need, and through thorough professional assessment, we believe that a small scale sustainable urban extension to Reading at Pincents Hill is one of the most appropriate means by which the target can be responsibly and credibly met.  We are also certain that there is potential to bring widespread benefits to the existing local communities.

The Pincents Hill Design Enquiry was undertaken over five days in early September 2008 and was attended by local stakeholders, members of the public and the Blue Living team.  The purpose of the Design Enquiry was to gain a full understanding of the site constraints and opportunities as well as local concerns and aspirations to prepare, in public view, an initial masterplan and associated strategies.  The Design Enquiry report which details these findings can be found here.

These proposals have subsequently been tested and refined by the Blue Living team in dialogue with local people and in particular the Pincents Hill Liaison Panel.  These refined proposals form the basis of the outline planning application.

The Design and Access Statement for the Pincents Hill Outline Planning Application is available for download from here.

The full Pincents Hill application is available for review on the West Berkshire Council website. To review the documents and have your say, please visit the planning section of West Berkshire Council's website. Comments can be submitted to West Berkshire Council until 18th September 2009.