Town council objects to plans to use Newbury Racecourse hostel as hotel

"We have a responsibility to the residents"

Town councillors have objected to plans to allow Newbury Racecourse to use a jockey’s hostel as hotel accommodation.

The racecourse has submitted an application for a change of use for The Lodge, a 36-bed hostel used to house stable staff on racedays, to a hotel for up to 305 days a year.

The plans have come in for heavy criticism from racecourse residents with many homeowners claiming that they were told the hostel would only be used by staff on racedays.

The racecourse has since said that no restrictions were put in place, however, and the hostel can already be used for 365 days of the year claiming that the hostel to hotel application was to seek clarification on the building’s use.

At a meeting of Newbury Town Council’s planning and highways committee councillors criticised the application saying the council had a responsibility to the residents.

Looking to clarify the nature of the change, Miles Evans (Con, Victoria) asked Newbury Racecourse finance director Claire Spencer if it was more commercially viable to be able to call the hostel a hotel.

Ms Spencer replied: “We couldn’t offer it as hotel accommodation to the public in the same way as other hotels in the area.

“I think it's nicer to call it a hotel rather than a hostel."

Ms Spencer also pointed out that initial plans for a 123-bed hotel to be built on the site will still go ahead “when the timing was right”.

Jeff Beck (Con, Clay Hill) said: “It does seem from what the residents have said that the developer has waited until the prime point in time before making the announcement on the future use when the surrounding properties have been sold.”

Mr Beck went on to state that in his belief the racecourse and developer David Wilson Homes “knew full well” what they were doing adding: “If that had been a planned project then it fits.

“We have a responsibility to the residents that have purchased properties in the belief that this hostel is going to be used for limited periods of the year.

“I think the impact on lives of these residents is going to be unacceptable therefore I propose we object.”

As a result, councillors voted against to the plans.

Following the meeting, a spokesman for Newbury Racecourse said they were disappointed at the result of the vote, pointing out that The Lodge was already in use as a hostel.

The spokesman added: “The town council chose not to object when West Berkshire Council approved the original applications, which resulted in the hostel being built, as well as the residential properties opposite.

“The recent application was merely to change that use to a hotel but with no change to operations beyond what is already permitted, namely 365 days per year potential residency and the approved hours of operation.

“The town council is one of many consultees and all other statutory consultee responses to date have raised no objections.

“Once all views from statutory and non-statutory consultees have been received the racecourse will assess the situation, consider any concerns raised and determine how best to proceed.”