West Berkshire Council has officially signed off its updated local plan after a special meeting and months of back-and-forth. The Planning Inspectorate confirmed in April that the plan is legally sound – but only after a few important tweaks.
So, what’s changed? The plan now runs from 2023 to 2041 instead of 2022 to 2039, raising the minimum housing requirement to at least 9,270 new homes – about 515 each year. It also secures a clear five-year supply of deliverable sites, giving local residents and developers more certainty about where new neighbourhoods will grow. A standout detail: North East Thatcham will now take around 2,500 new homes instead of 1,500.
There’s good news for local jobs too – the minimum employment land requirement has been increased to over 57,000 square metres for offices and nearly 100,000 for industry and warehousing up to 2041, ensuring that work opportunities grow alongside housing.
Interestingly, the plan almost didn’t make it. When the Liberal Democrats took over the council, they wanted to withdraw it and start from scratch. However, the government stepped in and required the plan to go through the full examination. In the end, the council decided adoption was the best way to protect valued landscapes and make sure new development is well-planned and truly beneficial for the community.
Council Leader Jeff Brooks summed it up well: “We’re not just setting aside land for houses and jobs – we’re tightening up our policies on design, infrastructure, flood risk, biodiversity, and the environment too.”
Local plans like this shape how communities grow and what kind of places we live and work in. If you’re planning a project or wondering how local planning changes might affect your land or property, we’re here to guide you through every step.
At Homz, we help you understand the opportunities and navigate local planning rules with ease, so you can move forward with confidence. Get in touch with us here – we’d love to hear about your ideas and help you make them happen!
References:
1.) https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/06/16/local-plan-adopted-west-berkshire
