Government rules 'Watership Down' housing development can begin

Links to the novel Watership Down featured at an exhibition of the plans

A controversial project to build 1,000 homes on farmland featured in the novel Watership Down can go ahead, the government has ruled.

Developers had appealed against West Berkshire District Council's decision to refuse the Sandleford Park scheme.

The council said it was disappointed by the government's latest ruling but said outline planning permission for the Newbury houses had now been granted.

Protesters said protected habitats and ancient woodlands would be put at risk.

There have been five failed applications since the area was allocated for development by the authority in 2012.

Bloor Homes and Sandleford Homes Partnership appealed against the council's refusal for the housing scheme off Monks Lane last year.

Then Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick called in the application for a final decision by his department.

The development includes up to 1,000 new homes, 80 extra-care housing units and a new two-form entry primary school.

The plans allow for Park House School to be expanded and a new open space including a new country park to be laid out, along with drainage infrastructure, walking and cycling paths.

Protestors said the development would threaten ancient woodlands

Plans to build homes at Sandleford have been in the pipeline for more than a decade, ever since West Berkshire Council identified it as a preferred site for housing in 2010.

Watership Down author Richard Adams campaigned in 2011 against developing what he called "the most beautiful area south of Newbury".

In the novel, rabbits flee Sandleford Warren, which is about to be destroyed by bulldozers.

Sandleford Park has been allocated for development by West Berkshire District Council

Protest group Say No To Sandleford said the proposals would "surround the ancient woodlands in a wall of concrete".

The developers said there would be a 15m buffer between developed areas and ancient woodlands.

The district council said it would engage "pro-actively" with the developers to ensure a "high quality and sustainable development".