Newbury retirement complex plans get go ahead

The 59 flats will replace redundant offices in West Street

PLANS to build 59 new retirement flats in the centre of Newbury have been given the green light.

Developer Churchill Retirement Living will demolish the former offices at Avonbank and Northcroft houses, in West Street, and replace them with a living complex which will provide an assisted living scheme for the elderly.

The plans were approved by councillors on the western area planning committee last week despite concerns over a lack of parking spaces, as well as disabled access, lack of developer contributions, lack of affordable housing and insufficient provision for waste management.

A decision on the plans was originally due to be made last November, but was deferred while West Berkshire Council explored claims by the developer that it was not viable to build any affordable homes at the site.

Having looked into the viability assessment, the council agreed to the developer’s offer of £222,000 towards off-site affordable housing alongside £335,000 in contributions.

The council also stands to make an additional £460,000 over the next six years through the New Homes Bonus scheme.

In approving the application, the council went against its own policy which states that all new developments should be 30 per cent affordable.

During the recent meeting, the council’s portfolio holder for housing, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley), said: “I have already said that I am very keen that we do adhere to our planning policies and that we do demand an affordable housing contribution.

“Looking at the viability assessment I am comfortable approving this – but I do want to send a clear message to developers that only in exceptional circumstances do we accept deviation from our strict policies.”

Speaking at the meeting, Simon McFarlane of Planning Issues Ltd – representing Churchill Retirement Living – urged councillors to grant planning permission for what he described as a “package worth £1m to the council”.

When asked about concerns over disabled parking and access, Mr McFarlane said: “We do have a building regulations expert who checks an application before it is submitted to ensure it meets the relevant standards. We are told this application does.”

Buildings owned by the United Reformed Church, which stands alongside Northcroft House in Cromwell Place, are being sold to enable the project to go ahead.

The project will involve the footpath along parts of Cromwell Road being widened, but the developer has made reassurances that the United Reformed Church will remain in its current location.

Speaking about the concerns over parking, the council’s principal planning officer, Michael Butler, said: “Eighteen spaces for 59 flats is only 0.23 spaces per flat, which is below the normal ratio but we’ve been assured that this is normal in sheltered housing as many of the residents won’t be using, or have access to, a car.”

If the current application had been refused the appeal for the previous application, submitted last year, would have been heard in July.

Reacting to the plans being approved, Andrew Burgess, managing director of Planning Issues Ltd, said: “It is regrettable that an appeal had to be lodged as councillors originally went against the recommendations of the planning officer.

“This development has been delayed for seven months when councillors could have approved an identical application last November.

“These delays are expensive and cannot be recovered from the council and have frustrated the regeneration of the area for no good reason.”

The average age of residents, based on other schemes operated by Churchill is expected to be 79, however anyone above the age of 55 can live there.

Directly across this street and opposite the site is the Newbury West Street public car park. Renewed planning permission for six terraced houses to replace the car park was approved in 2013.