Will it or won’t it harm the character of Newbury? Kennet Centre appeal goes into a second week

The Kennet Shopping centre appeal concludes this week, with a ruling from the government planning inspector due in August.

Much of the debate in the nearly two-week long inquiry, being held at West Berkshire Council offices in Newbury, have centered around the impact the multi-storey buildings with hundreds of flats would have on the character of the town.

Those against it have claimed the eight storey blocks of buy to rent flats proposed to replace the Kennet Shopping centre would change the character of Newbury forever, losing its market town appeal.

They fear the views of the skyline currently showing the church and the town hall would be lost.

“It has not been easy, without legal advice and facing barristers, to put our opposition to the development in the language of the planning system, when fundamentally this is about feeling and character,” said Dr David Peacock of the Newbury Society.

“The central issue as we see it comes down to this. To what extent does the inspector believe that the character of the Newbury Town Centre conservation area and its heritage assets would be preserved or enhanced or harmed by the development?”

The developers insist otherwise, and have told the inspector, Richard Aston, that the impact of the buildings will not affect it as much as is claimed.

“The proposals would present as a series of low-pitched sloping roofs with some brick upper parts, and set below the ridgeline of the distant hill,” said Lochailort’s heritage architecture expert Dr Chris Miele.

“Accordingly, they are not prominent and the church tower would remain readily discernible, and the ability to appreciate its proportions and pinnacles as defining characteristics would not be impeded.”

Evidence for and against ‘harm’ to Newbury’s character has been heard, with the planning inspector taking himself off for an unaccompanied look around the existing site, which all sides seem to agree, is way past its sell by date.

The appeal concludes on Thursday, with a ruling expected in August.