The heathland boasts rare birds such as the Dartford warbler

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has promised to identify more open space that can be used when new homes are built in the Thames Basin Heaths area.

The heath, an area protected by EU law, is home to endangered nightjars, woodlarks and Dartford warblers.

The council said its new "robust" policy would help protect the area.

Conservationists concerned at the number of people using the heath area have called for new housing developments to be restricted.

The council said it wanted to find alternative open spaces so that it could deal with planning applications without putting heaths are risk.

Councillor Mary Ballin, the council's executive member for planning, said: "This policy is about finding a practical way forward to allow beneficial development while still protecting these special habitats and others in the borough."