Watership Down homes plan 'fiction becoming reality'

Richard Adams' novel Watership Down tells the story of a young rabbit who has a vision of his warren's destruction at Sandleford

Campaigners said a decision to allow 360 homes to be built amounted to “urban sprawl”.

Controversial plans for Sandleford Park West, Newbury, were approved last month by West Berkshire councillors.

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) wrote to the council last year opposing the planning application by Donnington New Homes.

Council officers recommended the development for approval, despite more than 100 objections, due to the "desperate need" for homes.

Councillor Denise Gaines, portfolio holder for highways, housing and sustainable travel, previously said: "I know how many people are currently on my housing list and are waiting for homes."

CPRE chairman Greg Wilkinson said: “It is extremely sad that this very site, which is so iconic, is now to be bulldozed and concreted over.”

Development on the Newbury site, immortalised in Richard Adams' 1972 novel, is led by Donnington New Homes.

Author Richard Adams of Watership Down campaigned against development on this site before he died aged 96

Mr Wilkinson said: “We are very dismayed by the council’s decision.”

He added: “In his novel Watership Down, Sandleford Warren was the very area that was threatened with destruction by developers in the opening chapter.

“That development provided the main storyline for the novel and for the two film adaptations in 1978 and 2018.

“In later years, when that threat became real, Adams also campaigned against housing development on this site.

“So it is extremely sad that this very site, which is so iconic, is now to be bulldozed and concreted over.

"A terrible example of fiction becoming reality.”

Mr Adams, who died in 2016, described the area as "a beautiful piece of open country and the most beautiful area south of Newbury".

"The very idea of building on it makes your gorge rise," he added.

Plans to build homes at Sandleford have been mooted for more than 10 years.

The government allowed another 1,000-home development for Sandleford in 2022 after it was initially refused by West Berkshire Council.