Welcome to the Highclere Society

Major Planning Applications

• 26 houses at Westridge by JPP Land. Having been refused by the Borough's Development Committee, the applicants have now appealed - see details at the Borough's Planning Portal. The Society continues to object as it would be the largest single development in Highclere - ever.
• Watermill Bridge - this application by Bewley Homes for 350 homes at Wash Water is due for determination shortly. Based on the number of well argued objections, including that of the Society (view here), we hope that it will be it refused.

The Highclere Society was formed in 1996 by local people who wanted to protect and enhance the village and its environment for the benefit of the whole community. The About Us page tells you about our activities and what we have achieved for the village.

About Highclere

Highclere is a village in North Hampshire. It lies astride the A343 Newbury to Andover road on the north slope of the North Hampshire Downs, between the Downs and the valley of the River Enborne. Other local villages include Woolton Hill and Burghclere.

Having good communications links (A34, M4, trains from Newbury to London), it attracts professional people who want access to jobs, services and cultural opportunities, yet live in the countryside. The Society's greatest challenge is to maintain the rural ambience against the pressure for unsustainable development.

Some other facts:

• The parish has five settlements - Highclere, the Highclere Estate, Highclere Street, Penwood and Wash Water (a total population of around 1,600)
• Highclere Parish Council first met on Friday 14 December 1894. It is still going strong - see Highclere Parish website
• It is approximately 5 miles deep and 1 mile wide
• The village is almost entirely within the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Its outstanding feature is Highclere Castle and the surrounding estate, the home of Lord and Lady Carnarvon
• The other main 'business' in the village is the thriving private Thorngrove School
• Highclere's quiet lanes attract walkers (and their dogs), horse riders and cyclists (although some parts are hilly!)
• There is a thriving community spirit, with the village hall hosting several groups as well as varied entertainment
• Also thriving is the Highclere Film Club, which (in normal times) screens top class films twice a month - read Chris Martin's short history (PDF).