Eagle Quarter appeal over Newbury’s Kennet Shopping centre redevelopment set for May

The appeal date for the Eagle Quarter multi-storey flats development has been set for May 20.

The appeal against West Berkshire Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for the controversial high-rise 427 buy-to-rent flats development to replace Newbury’s Kennet Shopping centre was lodged on February 14.

The Government will decide whether to overturn that decision with its own ruling.

Meanwhile, the alternative Old Town scheme to put 317 individually designed mews houses on the site and get rid of the shopping altogether is now in with the council for scheduling.

Arrangements for the appeal inquiry are currently being finalised by the Planning Inspectorate.

These will include a pre-inquiry conference call with the lead parties to deal with procedural and administrative matters, including how the evidence will be heard.

Any representations submitted to the Planning Inspectorate will be copied to the appellant and this local planning authority and will be considered by the inspector when determining the appeal.

Any organisation wanting to have a say has until March 25 to do so, then it should take about a week for the planning inspectorate to decide.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the council to see if it can legally – by its own rules – manage to schedule the new Old Town idea and decide on it before the Government does on the other one.