The Digital West Berkshire Magazine - Autumn / Winter 2024

01_Councillor Denise Gaines introduction

Welcome to the Your West Berkshire magazine - Autumn / Winter 2024 Edition

At West Berkshire Council we have ten Executive councillors, each taking responsibility for a particular area and collectively forming the main decision-making body on the Council. I was delighted this year to be asked to lead on planning and housing - key issues for residents and the district.

Housing and house building is always a hot topic and now as much as ever. The Planning Inspector has required us to find more places to build homes to meet additional demand while changes to national planning policies are likely to push that number even higher. No one would disagree with the need to build new homes - they will be homes for our children, to support the growth of our local economy and our towns and villages.

However, this needs to be balanced against the need to ensure these homes are in the right place and supported by the necessary infrastructure. That's why we proceed carefully to make sure we get it right - while ensuring we meet our housing targets and that decisions are taken locally and not subject to Government intervention.

Work on the Local Plan Review continues and will be subject to further consultation and approval by the Planning Inspector and at meeting of all the district's councillors. We'll be keeping you updated as we go so do sign up to our newsletters and follow us on social media to keep in touch on this issue.

We continue to make good progress though. Last year we delivered 275 new affordable homes - boosting us towards our target to deliver 1,000 by 2030. Residents have started moving into the new homes at Sterling Gardens in Newbury and their feedback has been extremely positive.

Our support for those who need additional help remains steadfast with a plan in place to support those people who are homeless this winter, and a Household Support Fund to support households who would otherwise struggle to meet essential living costs. You can read more about these in this magazine. It's another packed edition sharing with you just some of the work we are doing with you and for you to ensure West Berkshire remains such a wonderful place in which to live.