Village, Town and Parish Design Statements (VDS)

Village, Town and Parish Design Statements (VDS) are produced by local communities. They describe the distinctive local character of an area and set out principles to guide the design of new development. 

Once adopted by the council they are used to inform and support the policies contained within the  and can be material considerations in the determination of planning applications.

We have produced a guide for communities thinking of preparing a VDS [29KB] .

The following VDS have been adopted by the council:

• Basildon VDS (March 2001) [61KB]
• Bucklebury Vision Parish Design Statement (Oct 2019) [6MB]
• Chieveley VDS (April 2002) [58KB]
• Cold Ash and Ashmore Green VDS (May 2002) [1MB]
• Speen Village Design Statement (VDS) [7MB]
• Beenham VDS (July 2003) [1006KB]
• Hermitage VDS (July 2004) [7MB]
• Inkpen VDS (August 2004) [2MB]
• Newbury TDS (refresh July 2018) [10MB]
• Compton VDS (October 2005) [3MB]
• Pangbourne VDS (November 2005) [1MB]
• Brimpton VDS (2007) [574KB]
• Stratfield Mortimer VDS (November 2007) [1MB]
• Streatley VDS (March 2009) [1MB]
• Hamstead Marshall VDS (August 2009) [1MB]
• Stanford Dingley VDS (March 2026) [299KB]  An updated version of the Stanford Dingley Village Design Statement was adopted by the Council on 26 March 2026. It replaces the original 2010 design statement. A full colour version with maps and images is currently being produced by Stanford Dingley Parish Council and will be published on this webpage shortly. 
• Burghfield VDS (August 2011) [2MB]