‘Old Town’ Kennet Shopping centre plans submitted to West Berkshire Council

The new Kennet Shopping centre redevelopment plans have gone in.

These plans are for the ‘Old Town’ version – the one with individual mews houses.

The opening paragraph of the design statement says they are to “enhance the Newbury Conservation Area by restoring the look, feel and character of – this part of – Newbury”.

Architects of the plan say while there are listed buildings in Newbury town centre, the design team took particular interest in the numerous passageways and narrow streets there for inspiration.

In the report, they say the street pattern of Newbury town centre retains its basic medieval route structure.

“The street layout of the town is reflective of the historic function as a place of mercantile trade,” says the rather lyrical report.

“The wide streets and open spaces that once held markets, Northbrook Street and Market Place, remain the main shopping routes today.

“Glimpsed views down winding passageways are a charming and distinctive characteristic of the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area and provide a strong connection with the past.”

The hugely dialled up ‘conservation’ approach is in stark contrast to the multi-storey Eagle Quarter version developer Lochailort put forward before.

That idea has blocks of buy-to-rent flats sitting atop a shopping street, which had considerable objections from councillors and the public alike, who did not want Newbury turning into something like Reading.

Those plans currently sit at appeal with the planning inspector, so the timing of when this application gets scheduled for discussion at council will be interesting, as it may come after the planning inspector decides for or against the multi-story version.

The more romantic/conservation friendly plans will see a new district called the Old Town, which has very little shopping in it.