Council welcomes rejection of £158m town centre plan

Plans for flats to replace the Kennet Shopping Centre in Newbury have been rejected

A town council has welcomed the rejection of a £158 million plan to transform an ageing shopping centre into a residential and retail development with more than 400 flats.

Newbury Town Council was among those submitting evidence to the planning inspector earlier this year opposing the high-rise Eagle Quarter scheme

At an appeal the inspector upheld the orginal decision by district planners saying the design would be "overly dominant".

Afterwards, developer Lochailort said the decision was "a little depressing" but good news for Old Town, another of its proposals for the site, now under consideration by West Berkshire Council.

Newbury Town Council had three areas of concern with the original plans: the lack of amenity space, parking provision and the impact on the conservation area.

Through the Rule 6 process, the town council was allowed to present evidence, cross-examine and contribute directly when the inspector considered these issues.

It said: "The Eagle Quarter sits within the heart of our town, where heritage and character play a central role in defining our identity and attracting both residents and visitors.

"The proposals would have overwhelmed the established townscape, eroding the special qualities of the conservation area and causing harm that we considered unjustifiable."

The council said it remained ready to work constructively with developers to deliver regeneration that enhanced rather than diminished Newbury's unique character.