Three-storey Newbury canalside care home refused

Plans for a three-story, 67-bed care home on land next to a marina behind B&Q off the A4 in Newbury have been refused.

West Berkshire Council planners turned down the application.

It said the proposed development "harms the significance of the conservation area through harmful change to its setting and fails to enhance or better reveal the significance of the conservation area".

The Canal and River Trust also raised concerns with the proposal by the Muller Property Group to develop the site on behalf of Simply UK.

“The height of the building seems unduly high, making it out of keeping and obtrusive for this location,” said Julian Foley on behalf of the trust.

“Moreover, the landscaping buffer and screening along the canal and between the site and the neighbouring marina appear insufficient to minimise effectively the visual impact of the building not only on the canal but also the marina.”

More than a dozen local residents also objected.

“A contemporary building would be very out of place,” said Chantal Furby.

“The houses nearby are older properties and cottages, with listed buildings and a historic canal, the narrowboats evoke a historic era and a massive contemporary building of this size and scale would be completely out of place in this setting.”

The site is currently lying vacant and was formerly part of the former Ham Mill Manor.

Historically, the site was developed upon to create Ham Manor, retained until the mid-1900s, when it was demolished.

There are no records of it being used since.