New look for Yattendon Post Office

Owned by Yattendon Estates, the building, which dates back to 1877, is listed only as part of a group with other historic buildings overlooking the market square, so that no development has a detrimental impact on the character of the area.
Yattendon Estates wants the store to become more open plan, making it more accessible to disabled residents and those with pushchairs, while also allowing more space for an increased range of products.
A statement released by Newbury architects Gotelee Orchard-Lisle, appointed to the scheme, said: “Over the last 10 years the viability of the shop and its ability to continue to serve the local community has been under severe pressure from new forms of retailing, particularly from supermarkets who can deliver using the internet. These changes have caused many rural shops to close.
“On reviewing the building in its current form it is clear that it cannot compete without a change to its internal layout, to increase its trading area and make it open plan, to enable the operator to offer a wider range of goods in a more orderly and accessible way.”
West Berkshire Council is due to make a decision on the plans by December 26.