Councillors in West Berkshire will this week be asked to begin public consultation over two options to redevelop London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) in Newbury.
The council’s executive will consider a draft development brief by Avison Young which presents two alternative masterplans for the 11.13-hectare site, at its meeting on Thursday, September 3
The report proposes either a baseline masterplan over five years for the council owned estate or a comprehensive masterplan which would take between five and 10 years.
The baseline plan suggests 280 homes, 5,400 sq m of light industrial space and 1,673 sq m of office space while the comprehensive option suggests 544 homes, 9,240 sq m of light industrial and 6,023 sq m of office space.
Industrial businesses make up the majority of current occupiers but the site includes the former Faraday Road home of Newbury FC.
Cllr Ross Mackinnon, executive member for finance and economic development said: “We want West Berkshire to be a place which welcomes business, enterprise and industry.
“In the district we already have a very competitive offer for start-ups and businesses wanting to grow but we want to do more.
“Regeneration of the London Road Industrial Estate will help us protect existing jobs and create new ones by creating some first-rate office and industrial space.”
The council has sought to redevelop LRIE since 2003. In 2013 St Modwen was appointed as development partner but in 2018 a legal challenge led to that deal collapsing.
Avison Young was formally appointed to produce the development brief in early 2020.
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