New plans for Dolmans

Plans were recently submitted to redevelop the Edwardian house, eight days before a substantial fire

NEW plans to redevelop a five-bedroom Edwardian house in Newbury were submitted just days before the house became the victim of a suspected arson attack.

On August 2, West Berkshire Council received a planning application from Charles Smith Homes to redevelop Dolmans in Shaw Hill to erect eight two-bedroom apartments within a single three-storey block.

The site had been the subject of a number of previous applications in recent years and has had outline planning permission from 2008 for the conversion of the existing house to form six two-bedroom flats, although two subsequent full planning applications for 13 and 10 two-bedroom apartments were withdrawn and refused respectively.

The refused application for 10 apartments was also dismissed on appeal.

The latest application was received by the council eight days prior to a substantial fire at the house which destroyed 50 per cent of the ground and first floor of the house.

A total of 34 firefighters tackled the blaze on Wednesday, August 10 and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman, Nicole Targett, said afterwards that the fire was believed to have been started deliberately.

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said this week the fire was still being investigated.

West Berkshire Council spokesman, Keith Ulyatt, said the fire made no difference to the planning application, since it was for redevelopment of the whole site anyway.

He added that there was a lot to be considered in the application though and as such, no date has yet been set for a decision on the plans.