High-rise racecourse plans decided tonight
Plans for 366 apartments and a 123-bedroom hotel at Newbury Racecourse will be decided upon tonight (Wednesday)
PLANS for 10 high-rise apartment blocks and a 123-bedroom hotel as part of Newbury Racecourse's redevelopment are up before planners this evening (Wednesday).
The plans, which relate to the central area of the development for up to 1,500 homes, have both been recommended for approval by West Berkshire Council planning officers, with the decision being made by councillors on the western area planning committee.
In September, plans for 421 homes in the western area of the 309-acre site were approved by a single vote, despite considerable objection from local residents, and together, these two applications form the next phase of the £300m redevelopment of the 106-year-old racecourse site.
The housing application is for a mix of 366 one, two and three-bedroom apartments - 110 of which will be affordable (30 per cent) - with associated access and amenities, including 388 parking spaces and 406 cycle spaces.
Under the plans, the apartments will be built in 10 high-rise blocks that vary in height from six and seven-storeys to the highest block, B10, which will comprise of 10-storeys and stand tall at 31m.
The second application to be considered is for the construction of a 123-bedroom hotel, offices, lads' hostel, a replacement children's nursery and refurbishment of the existing stables, together with access, racecourse car parking for up to 629 spaces, landscaping and amenities for the central area.
Greenham Parish Council has said it cannot support the housing plans in their current form, adding that they are concerned about the only access being over the proposed bridge from Hambridge Road, while one local resident has objected due to the cumulative traffic impacts of the new housing, concerns about excess parking impacts and the effect of more events being held at the racecourse.
However, officers have recommended both applications for approval, concluding that although they will have a considerable impact upon the skyline of Newbury, the reserved matters applications fully comply with both the spirit and detail of the outline planning consent, which was granted in 2010.
In addition, officers say that the form, mass and scale of building will provide an attractive and cohesive whole, which will contribute positively to the Grandstand/Racecourse architecture already present on site.
Meanwhile, two other applications in Hungerford, including plans to build 10 two-bedroom flats and three three-bedroom houses to the rear of The Three Swans Hotel, will also be discussed at the meeting, which takes place at the council offices in Market Street, Newbury, starting at 6.30pm.
Log back on to www.newburytoday.co.uk tomorrow (Thursday) for the decisions and reaction.