Eagle Quarter statement from The Newbury Society
Statement from The Newbury Society in response to the decision on January 8 by West Berkshire Council’s district planning committee to refuse consent for the Kennet Centre/ “Eagle Quarter” development (23/02094/FULMAJ).
We welcome the council’s decision to refuse this development, which would have been damaging for Newbury. The Newbury Society has opposed the scale of the development of 427 flats, which it feels is out of keeping with the character of the town. The Society has particularly objected to the complete lack of affordable housing, and to the effect on the setting of listed buildings.
It is now more than four years since the ‘Eagle Quarter’ plans first emerged, as an 11-storey proposal which showed a complete lack of appreciation for the character of this town. The Newbury Society is in favour of modernisation or redevelopment of the Kennet Centre, but believes that any proposal needs to be on a scale which respects the rest of the town centre, which is a conservation area.
The focus of The Newbury Society’s objections has been the cluster of five-, six-, seven- and eight-storey buildings proposed at the southern end of the development, with five-storey buildings on the street frontages in Cheap Street and Bartholomew Street, and six-storey buildings on Market Street. The development would have harmed the setting of a number of listed buildings, including the Catherine Wheel and The Newbury.
Local opinion, while in favour of updating or redeveloping the Kennet Centre, has been strongly against the ‘Eagle Quarter’ actual plans, as illustrated by the many objections received by West Berkshire Council. It was also opposed by Newbury Town Council, represented by Andy Moore at this week’s meeting, where both of the West Berkshire councillors representing the area also spoke strongly against the plans. The Newbury Society organised a petition against the plans which collected over 1,100 signatures.
West Berkshire Council’s district planning committee rejected the plans on several grounds, including the lack of affordable housing; the effect of the height, bulk and massing on the historic environment; insufficient parking; and insufficient amenity space. All of these are issues which have been raised repeatedly in submissions from The Newbury Society.
On the issue of affordable housing, council officers reported that the local need justified the council’s policy of requiring 30% affordable housing in a development of this kind. However, submissions from the developer indicated that it was not viable for them to provide any affordable housing at all, and none was included.
The Newbury Society chair David Peacock thanked all the members of the Society’s committee for their work on this over several years, and is grateful for the support the Society has received from Newbury residents.
David Peacock
On behalf of The Newbury Society. January 9, 2025