Newbury Town Council split over proposed flats for Bartholomew Street

Newbury-based company Ressance Limited want to construct 14 two-bedroom flats on land to the rear of 24 Bartholomew Street, Newbury.
The plans were approved by Newbury Town Council’s planning and highways committee at a meeting at the town hall on Monday night, but not all councillors were in favour of the development.
Member for Victoria ward David Allen (Lib Dem) raised concerns about the building’s proposed flat roof, and said he sympathised with objections raised by residents in nearby Campion House, Oddfellows Road.
A total of eight residents have written to West Berkshire Council objecting to the development.
Mr Allen said: “When I first saw this application and read the correspondences from Campion House residents I supported their view that it will be an imposing building.
“I’m also struggling with the flat roof. I’m struggling to see anything comparable in the area. I think the building would stick out quite unacceptably.”
However, director of Ressance Limited, Duncan Crook told the meeting: “There are elements in Parkway that are similar. Pelican House in West Street also has a flat roof and that’s a successful development. You don’t need a pitched roof to have a successful development.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Julian Swift-Hook (Pyle Hill) agreed, saying “I don’t have a big problem with this proposal. The design is innovative. There are other buildings in the area that are similarly modern in design.”
The application was supported following a majority vote, but Conservative councillors Tony Stretton (Clay Hill), Anthony Pick (St Johns), and Adrian Edwards (Falkland) all requested that wooden cladding is not used on the building.
West Berkshire Council is expected to make a decision on the application by June 19.