Newsham Court Pincents Kiln Calcot Reading RG31 7SD Data via plota.co.uk

26/01928/PASOL - Prior Approval for Solar PV Awaiting decision

Proposal

Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed:Installation of 141.3kWp Solar PV panels on the roof of the Headquarters of Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service (RBFRS), consisting of 314 panels. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

Received
3 Sept 2026
Decision
Expected by 29 Oct 2026

This application is under consideration - no decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision between 13 Oct 2026 and 22 Oct 2026, from West Berkshire's recent prior approvals. The consultation period closed on 8 Sept 2026.

Site constraints 6

SSSI 24 m away: Pincents Kiln SSSI
Natural England may need consulting, depending on what is proposed.
Sites of special scientific interest are the best wildlife and geological sites in the country. Development likely to harm one is rarely permitted.
Habitat network: Network Expansion Zone
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
Public footpath 26 m away
Matters where it crosses or adjoins the site: obstructing a path without a diversion order is an offence, and work cannot start until the order is confirmed.
Compiled from highway authority data, not the legal definitive map. A few authorities have not published, so no path shown is not proof there is none.
National landscape 118 m away: North Wessex Downs
Outside the landscape; its setting can still be raised.
Previously an area of outstanding natural beauty, which is still the designation in law. Since 2023 authorities must seek to further its purpose, not merely have regard to it.
Also on the record
Inside the Reading built-up area; the 1970s provisional farmland map had this area as grade 3, but it predates the buildings here and the current map does not class it as farmland.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No listed building at the site

Checked on 11 September 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Application type
Prior Approval for Solar PV
Postcode
RG31 7SD
Received
3 Sept 2026
Validated
3 Sept 2026
Ward
Tilehurst Birch Copse
Parish
Tilehurst Parish Council
Case officer
Show
Target decision
29 Oct 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
LASER Energy

Decision outlook

Day 11 of the 56-day target. West Berkshire usually decides prior approvals by day 46.

Day 1145 days to the 56-day target
83%decided within 8 weeks
67%approved
105decided in the last year

Plota live figures for prior approvals decided by West Berkshire in the last twelve months, from validation. West Berkshire decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

6 neighbours consulted · Last counted 12 Sept 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
8 Sept 2026
Statutory expiry
29 Oct 2026
Env. assessment
No
West Berkshire
Planning Authority Score
3.9/10
Below average
#202 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

West Berkshire is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #199 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (93%) than the national average (90%).

Slower than most councils
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
West Berkshire decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
90%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #122 of 296
93%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #142 of 296
57%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #199 of 296
46%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #203 of 296
55%
Minor dwellings approved
65 decided (1-9 homes)
96%
Major dwellings approved
25 decided (10+ homes)
77%
Change of use approved
57 decided
1,045
Total decisions
108 refused in the year to March 2026