A plan for 60 homes and four commercial units in the centre of Wokingham has drawn an objection from a local civic group.
The Wokingham Society has published its opposition to plans by Devonshire Metro to redevelop 19-21 Market Place, currently home to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Robert Dyas and Lloyds Bank.
The developer has yet to submit a planning application but has consulted on its proposals. They include demolition of 19 and 20 Market Place and partial demolition of 21 (retaining the façade). The proposed homes of up to three bedrooms will be above and behind the commercial units, extending into an area at the rear, currently used as a car park.
However the society wants the number of units in the four proposed blocks reduced by around half and the four-storey heights reduced. The society also wants access improved, a commitment to affordable homes, a management plan for the public areas and artwork in Denmark Place.
Its objection stated: “We find the proposal superfluous and contrary to the principles of the conservation area status which seeks to protect the town centre from unnecessary development such as this proposal to demolish usable buildings and to impose an unacceptably large mass of residential buildings.”
The team on the project includes HPL as project manager and Solve as planning consultant.
Visit https://www.hawes-price.co.uk/19-21-market-place/
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Removing poor quality buildings that scar our towns whilst providing new homes, that are built on a surplus of tarmac that covers many towns across the country is the sustainable and responsible way to develop. The scheme looks great, won’t create significant harm in its response to context. We need to steer the quality of infill development to compliment our towns, but in principle just get on with it.