Flats bid at Newbury Business Park is rejected

Plans for a further 13 flats above an industrial estate building in Newbury have been kicked out – marking a line in the sand for future slam dunks by property investors hoping for quick win residential developments on the town's industrial estates.

More than 100 new flats are now under construction at the Emerald House building on Newbury Business Park.

But a move to convert the top floor of the building for the 13 extra homes was rejected by West Berkshire Council planning authority this week.

The main development was greenlit in 2018 by West Berkshire Council, over-ruling objections raised by Newbury Town Council, which described the proposal as “unsuitable”.

The town council had previously urged the planning authority to respect the park’s zoned commercial use and honour the district’s core strategy.

Maintaining the balance between residential and business use in the town was cited by Newbury Town Council as an integral reason for objecting.

That proposal involved a change of use application to convert empty office space under Permitted Development Rights.

The latest proposal comprises two two-bed apartments and 11 one-bed apartments – and would have been formed by a roof extension to the existing building.

Planners refused the application as it was deemed to not fall in with permitted development of the area.

Permitted development enables works to be carried out and changes of use without having to make a planning application.

The Newbury Business Park has 19 office buildings, many still vacant following the departure of Vodafone, which regrouped to its HQ off the A339 in 2003.

Other buildings on the site have been converted into housing already. Those at Cottington House on Carcaixent Square are being advertised for rent at around £900 per month.