Hungerford's St John’s Hall demolition plan criticised

An application by St John’s Ambulance Royal Berkshire division proposes demolition of the existing St John’s Hall to make way for four one-bedroom and two, two-bedroom homes plus associated access, parking and landscaping.
However the town council is working to regenerate the rail station area. New signs welcoming rail visitors promote Hungerford as “the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”
In its formal objection to the proposals, the council stated that it supports development of the site in principle but added that the design “is not suitable for the gateway to the town.”
Town council planners added: “The design should be considered in the context of the whole site, including the Oakes Bros plot, and needs to be developed in line with the Hungerford Town Plan and, in particular, in the Hungerford Station Brief.”
The brief advocates a “contemporary design that says more about Hungerford - no cedar/timber cladding; avoid projecting fins and alien roof form.”
The site is adjacent to Hungerford Rail Station and the application notes that an industrial site to the west has been sold for development and continues: “It is evident that the location site can be considered to be located within a very sustainable part of the urban area and it is well related in terms of its proximity to public transport and to a wide range of retail, employment and community facilities.”