Travis Perkins plans recommended for refusal

West Berkshire Council is recommending refusal for plans to erect 54 dwellings at the former Travis Perkins site

PLANS to erect 54 dwellings at the former Travis Perkins site in Newbury have been recommended for refusal by West Berkshire Council.

The plans, submitted by David Wilson Homes Limited, represent a significant reduction from previous plans to build 87 homes at the Mill Lane site, which were withdrawn last year by the applicant amid concerns among local residents of the impact of the development on the local road network.

However, the latest plans for 54 homes, which include 23 live-work units with distinct office space, 16 affordable homes and associated works, have still been recommended for refusal by West Berkshire Council planning officers, owing to concerns over the impact of approval on the district planning policy to retain identified key employment sites, the layout massing and scale and the lack of on-site parking.

In their report before councillors on the western area planning committee next Wednesday (April 13), planning officers say that the strong reasons for rejecting the application make the proposed development ‘clearly unacceptable', adding that if members were to approve the application, it would be referred up to the district planning committee.

The decision will be made at the meeting, which starts at 6.30pm at the council offices in Market Street, Newbury.