On 30 January 2025, we published an article regarding the new proposals from from Lochailort to redevelop the Kennet Centre in Newbury. The previous plans (which had been formally submitted as planning applications) were known as Eagle Quarter: these very different ones – which so far have not been submitted as planning applications, though this is expected to happen very soon – are known as Old Town Newbury.
One of the organisations which has taken a great deal of interest in the proposals is the Newbury Society, which exists “to promote interest in the history of Newbury and its surrounding parishes, and to act as a civic forum for discussion of matters which may affect the town’s heritage.” It had been a consistent opponent of the Eagle Quarter plans. We were naturally interested to know what the Society thought of the new proposals.
On 4 February, as reported in the above-linked article, we were given a brief response, a more detailed one being promised once the Society had been able to meet to discuss the proposals. On 10 February, an “initial response” was received, which we reproduce in full below.
“We support the change in character of these proposals, and the designs of the internal parts of this “Old Town” scheme, which we think will be an asset to Newbury and to the town centre conservation area. Much thought has clearly gone into the preparation, the resulting internal views, and into the building facades. We were very impressed by the exhibition display.
“We have no objection to the substantial reduction in the amount of retail space, nor to the loss of much of the north-south street from the previous ‘Eagle Quarter’ schemes. We welcome the new elevation for the Bartholomew Street street-frontage as a whole, which is a significant improvement on the previous scheme.
“We do retain concerns about some of the external elements of this ‘Old Town’ scheme. In particular, we would need to see the thin six-storey building in Cheap Street (between the former ‘Save the Children’ and the cinema) reduced in height. In terms of the whole scheme, this is a relatively small-scale change, but important. We would accept the addition of the lost residential units at a suitable location inside the development, to compensate.
“We welcome the integration of trees and shrubs in this scheme, and think it should be possible, at certain key points within the development, for the trees/landscaping to be established in the ground, rather than for the landscaping to be entirely planter- and pot-based.
“There are other changes which we would prefer. We have reservations about the Market Street facades, now shown as rising in places to seven storeys, double the height of the facing three- and four-storeys of the Weavers Yard street-frontage. Reducing these even by one storey would make a real difference.
“Once again, this proposal contains no affordable housing at all. We understand there are financial issues involved, but we would like to see at least an element of this, even if it fails to reach West Berkshire Council’s policy target of 95. How much would it cost Lochailort to include a small number of affordable units, say 10 or 12?
“As far as parking is concerned, with 557 spaces (including an extended multi-storey) for 317 flats and houses, we can see that this is a significant improvement on the ‘Eagle Quarter’ plans, although we would need to review the figures in detail.
“In spite of our reservations, it is clear that this is a massive improvement over the previous proposals, and we whole-heartedly welcome the character of the scheme.”
