Newbury Showground livestock building approved

Agricultural Society is thrilled after plans, recommended for refusal, were passed by West Berkshire councillors

NEWBURY Showground will get a new livestock building after West Berkshire Council's most senior planning committee went against planning officers' recommendations to refuse the application last night (Wednesday)

The plans, for a building for showing livestock, plus assembly and leisure uses on non-show days at the showground in Chieveley, were called before West Berkshire Council's district planning committee last night owing to the level of objection to the plans.

A marginal vote of six to five saw the plans passed after it was decided that the application did not contravene planning policy.

Speaking after the meeting, the chairman of the committee, Alan Law (Con, Basildon) said: “It was covered as an exception. In general policy the usual rule is no building in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), but there are a whole series of exceptional circumstances of things that can be built inside; farm buildings, agricultural buildings and anything that will benefit the local economy.

“On one side you had people who backed planning policy and thought we should stick with that, but on the other side more people thought that this should be allowed, and it was felt that it wouldn't harm the AONB.

“People were worried about the visual impact and that this would set a precedent but it is an exceptions, it is a one-off so it can't be used as a general precedent in future.”

Planning officers said in their report that they found the proposal to be "entirely unacceptable" because of the visual impact the development would have on the surrounding area, which is an AONB and because of the size and scale of it.

The plans were initially approved by West Berkshire Council's Western Area Planning Committee in September but referred up to the district planning committee because they went against national planning policy.

The Western Area Planning Committee had approved the planned 12m high livestock exhibition building, which could house up to 500 cattle, because it said improved facilities were essential for the continued success of the annual Royal County of Berkshire Show.

Now approved, a relief road, a lake and a new equestrian manege will also be built.

There were 298 letters of representation submitted to West Berkshire Council, both for and against the plans.

A board member of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, Simon Carter, said the building would provide a boost not just for the economy but for many local schools in the area.

“We are delighted that the committee listened to our arguments, having been given permission this gives us a platform for the show in future,” he said.

“This development is key to the continued success of the Agricultural Society and the show in future, and in our education programme.

“There is huge demand from schools in Berkshire and we will be able to provide a more subtle education now, not just classroom based where we can facilitate youngsters and they can come and look at the animals.

“Agriculture is Berkshire's predominant industry and we believe the Show and the showground reflects that. It is a great opportunity for us.”

The plans were approved subject to an updated S106 mitigation contribution from developers, and Mr Carter said it was expected that the negotiations would take around six to eight months before work began at the site in the spring.