Developer's school bid rejected by council

A housing developer that previously agreed to provide land for a primary school and pay £4m towards it has had an application to scrap the project dismissed.

David Wilson Homes got planning permission to build up to 401 homes off Oxford Road in Newbury in March 2017. West Berkshire Council had rejected the scheme in November 2015.

The developer asked the council to remove the need for the new one-form, 210-pupil school site and its financial contributions for it, arguing that they would only mean more unfilled pupil places in the area.

But on Friday the authority rejected that and said the proposals must remain part of the development's "long-term planning framework".

Heather Codling, the council's deputy leader and executive member for children and family services, said its refusal sent a "clear message" that it was "committed to ensuring that new development within West Berkshire is supported by the necessary infrastructure".

A total of 34 people were opposed to David Wilson Homes' application, with some residents saying that the school was a reason they moved there.

Others said they felt "misled" and that the school would be an "integral part" of the development and would "contribute towards positive community cohesion".