Lochailort’s plans for redevelopment of Newbury’s Kennet Centre into the mixed use Eagle Quarter have been turned down on appeal.
But Thames Tap understands its alternative scheme – Old Town – is due before councillors within two weeks.
The Planning Inspectorate has rejected the plans which would replace the ailing Kennet shopping centre with a development of 427 Build-to-Rent (BTR) flats in nine blocks, 3,117 sq m of Class E space for independent and artisan businesses and a new pedestrian link to the railway station and Market Place.
The scheme was refused by West Berkshire Council in January. Now the planning inspector’s report has upheld the refusal.
In a 26-page decision by the planning inspector, numerous negative comments were made about the design including its integration with existing buildings.
It stated: “As an imposition of a confused mix of retained buildings that cause harm, some new buildings that have been appropriately designed, others not, historic buildings and existing buildings with a negative effect such as the cinema, the approach fails to capture the essence of the site and its historic surroundings.
“A clashing intrusion of urban apartment-built form imposed onto the centre of the site by the blocks in dispute would feign respect to local distinctiveness but would simply be too big and visually dominating for this site.”
The report goes on to say the scheme has been created and arranged in a way that seems ‘too artificial and unrealistic’.
However council officers are working towards presenting an alternative proposal by Lochailort for Old Town, a 327-home period-style development on the site as soon as September 10 and a meeting of the Western area planning committee has been scheduled.
Lochailort director Hugo Haig has spoken exclusively to Thames Tap about his disappointment of the Eagle Quarter’s rejection and of his hopes for Old Town.
To see that planning application click here.
The dedicated website for Old Town is here.
And our podcast with Hugo Haig introducing Old Town in January is here.
© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
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Thanks for this insightful coverage. The Eagle Quarter decision highlights how vital design integration and local context are in development. At Kelt & Co Realty in Dubai, we also prioritize projects that complement their surroundings—especially in off-plan communities where thoughtful planning makes all the difference.
Insightful read. The refusal of the Eagle Quarter redevelopment shows how crucial site-specific design and context really are even large mixed-use projects can stumble when they don’t mesh with the local fabric.