Statement on the Kennet Centre (Eagle Quarter II) appeal decision – The Newbury Society
We welcome the fact that the planning inspector has agreed with The Newbury Society and decided that the proposed 8-storey development on the Kennet Centre site would not be in keeping with the character of Newbury town centre.
This “Eagle Quarter” development and its blocks of flats would have had a negative impact on the character of the town centre as a whole, and would compromise the setting of a number of listed buildings, including the Catherine Wheel and The Newbury.
In a lengthy and detailed judgement, the inspector described the scheme as one with considerable harms and benefits, but concluded that the harm to the character of the town centre conservation area and its listed buildings outweighed the benefits. The taller blocks represent “the wrong architecture in the wrong place.”
In the view from Bear Lane, in particular, “the introduction of such overly dominant built form would jarringly stand out against the skyline.” Overall, the scheme is one which appears to be “imposed on the historic townscape of [Newbury town centre] rather than integrating successfully with it.”
The appeal by Lochailort Investments Ltd was in support of a planning application lodged in 2023 and recommended by planning officers for approval, but rejected by councillors in January this year.
The Newbury Society wishes to make it clear that we do not oppose modernisation or redevelopment of the Kennet Centre; we simply consider that any redevelopment should be in keeping with the existing character of the town, and if possible, enhance it. The “Eagle Quarter” plans for the Kennet Centre started off several years ago as 11-storey proposals, and were then reduced to 8. Most of the street-frontage in this area consists of two- and three-storey buildings, allowing the town centre to retain a human and sympathetic scale.
We would be happy to see some housing on this site, but still think it unacceptable that a development of over 420 flats should include no affordable housing at all. And although the circumstances of the appeal prevented us from pursuing this, we also think that the parking provision was well below what was needed.
Many thanks to all of those who supported us in our fight, those who wrote letters criticising the proposals, those who signed our petition against this development, and those who turned up for the appeal hearing in June. And thanks to all the members of The Newbury Society’s committee for their work in opposing this damaging development.
The Newbury Society
August 2025.
[NOTE: The decision by planning inspector R. Aston to dismiss the appeal from Lochailort Investments Ltd was dated and published on 21 August, 2025. The full report can be found here.]