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Javid rejects 500-home housing association scheme

Sajid Javid has upheld a council’s decision to refuse permission on a housing association’s plans to build 495 homes in Berkshire.

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Javid rejects 500-home housing association scheme

A2 Dominion, which built 754 units in 2016/17 and owns around 37,000 homes, had appealed against West Berkshire Council’s rejection of the planned scheme in Thatcham.

But communities secretary Mr Javid has dismissed the appeal after calling in the decision, disagreeing with the planning inspector’s recommendation that permission should be granted.


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In a letter dated 27 July, Mr Javid argued the scheme was “not in accordance with the development plan overall” for the council.

He acknowledged that the plans – which included 198 affordable homes – would be a “considerable boost to the supply” of low-cost housing in the area, but said other concerns outweighed this benefit given the council has identified a five-year housing land supply.

Incursion into open countryside, loss of agricultural land and harm to a heritage asset were cited as reasons to turn the application down.

Following an inquiry last year, the planning inspector had concluded “that the economic and social benefits of the scheme would be of sufficient value to overcome the loss of environmental quality”.

A2 Dominion has been approached for comment.

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