Work begins on new business units at Newbury Station, Great Western Railway announce

Construction work has begun on three new business units on the south side of Newbury station as the railway station’s multi-million-pound redevelopment continues.

Great Western Railway is working with West Berkshire Council and Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to deliver the scheme, designed to help support the town’s economic development and increase employment opportunities.

The three new units which will be located on the south side of the station.

GWR business development director Tom Pierpoint said: “It’s exciting to see these business growth units starting to take shape.

“The station redevelopment meets a long-held ambition of ours to better support our customers and the wider area in a more accessible and sustainable way.

“Newbury station is a key gateway to the town and this work with our partners will help secure the economic prosperity of the region.”

The station is also being remodelled to improve customer experience, housing ticket gates inside for the first time and doubling customer flow.

Councillor Ross Mackinnon (Con, Bradfield), West Berkshire Council’s executive member for economic development, said: “In addition to the business units, improvements to the infrastructure will continue within Station Road to improve and upgrade the highway over the next year.

“This will include a new pedestrian forecourt area outside the station building, footway resurfacing, easier access to and from the station with two new pedestrian crossing points, and replacement of all-street lighting with Station Road.

“I’m confident that this investment from us and our partners will support the local economy to get back on track and help businesses to start, develop and thrive in West Berkshire.”

The station refurbishment, to include seven ticket gates on the north side and six on the south side, together with indoor sales and waiting areas, is expected to be completed this autumn.

As part of the re-development, a new multi-storey car park opened at the station last year, providing more than 160 additional parking spaces with electric car charging points and improved walking routes between the station and town centre.

That followed the opening of two new cycle hubs, which together provide 300 extra spaces and are fitted with CCTV for added security, environmentally-friendly motion sensor LED lighting and a bike repair stand.