Newbury town centre redevelopment row settled
Developers come to agreement with West Berkshire council over building heights
Last updated 6th Sep 2023
Newbury’s Kennet Centre developers are to submit new plans after striking a deal with West Berkshire Council on car parking space.
Lochialort has now withdrawn an appeal on a decision by West Berkshire Council (WBC) to reject the third set of plans, which were described as “turning Newbury into Basingstoke” by objectors.
Plans initially were for eleven storey blocks of flats to be built, which conservationists said would ruin Newbury’s historic character.
New plans see that reduced to a maximum of eight stories.
“The appeal has been withdrawn as we have been working very closely with the planners and members of the council to reach agreement on an amended scheme,” said Sarah Ballantyne-Way, planning director at Lochialort.
“We are pleased to be able to confirm that we have agreed a way forward with WBC in principle and will be submitting a revised application very soon.
“We have been able to agree the dual use of the existing car park, which we own and lease to WBC, which is empty at night when our residents will want to use it and can pay to do so.
“This has enabled us to remove the additional deck of car parking and has saved the scheme considerable money.
“Subsequently we have agreed to remove two storeys from the two tallest buildings, reducing them from nine storeys to seven storeys , plus roof, leaving one building in the middle at eight storeys.
“We have also removed one storey from the last block on Bartholomew Street. To compensate for the loss of units resulting from the reduction in height, we have changed the office space to more flats.
“The rest of the elements that made up the scheme remain the same, together with the Robert Adam detailed facades, new retail units, cafes and restaurants and new pedestrian streets and spaces.
“The saving from the car park has also enabled us to be able to include 19 affordable homes, in the form of discounted market rented units, ideally for key workers, as well as car park improvements helping to bring the car park up to date.”
Conservationists The Newbury Society had gathered more than 2,000 signatures in a petition opposing the scheme which Lochialort orginally appealed to the planning inspector about.
“It remains to be seen what will happen next, but Lochialort can only progess any redevelopment by submitting a new planning application,” it said.
West Berkshire Council said it welcomed the decision.
Councillor Tony Vickers, Executive Member for Planning, said:
“I am pleased that the developer has reflected on our concerns and those put forward by the local community. It is important we have a plan for the area which helps the town develop in the coming years while protecting the heritage and character which makes the place so special. We are now working with them on what we feel would be more appropriate for the area and in line with the planning policies which are there to guide future development. That application will then be judged on its own merits through the planning process.”