Historic Newbury building could become apartments

A plan has been submitted by Ashton Properties to convert the former listed building at 45 Greenham Road

AN HISTORIC 19th-century Newbury building could soon become a block of apartments.

Ashton Properties has applied to West Berkshire Council for permission to convert the former listed building at 45 Greenham Road - at the junction of Racecourse Road and Pyle Hill - into three apartments and three, three-bedroom dwellings.

The property has been the subject of a tug-of-war between developers and councillors and local residents in recent years, after previous applications by the developer to demolish it were seen off.

The Newbury Society had criticised the developers last year, but the conservation group has given its blessing to the new plans, which it said will retain the building “at a key entrance to Newbury.”

This support has been echoed by Greenham Parish Council, which was also previously critical of the plans for the building.

Three letters of representation regarding the building have been lodged with the district council, of which two object and state the potential negative impact on traffic flow around the entrance.

The building, which is located within the Stroud Green conservation area and is mentioned in Newbury Town Council's draft appraisal report into historic character buildings, was de-listed by English Heritage in 2005 in a move that caused outrage among local people, who claimed they should have been consulted.

A decision is expected to be made this month.