Lochailort Newbury has submitted plans to redevelop the Kennet Centre for 402 homes, 30 flexible retail units and either offices and a tech incubator hub or 91 retirement homes.

Two planning applications have gone into West Berkshire Council for the new Eagle Quarter, one which includes the offices and tech hub and one with the senior living accommodation as an alternative option.

The 402 homes will be a mix of Build-to-Rent and private sales and the flexible retail will accommodate shops, restaurants and co-working spaces. Lochailort says there will be a focus on attracting local, independent and artisan businesses.

The tech incubator hub option will provide flexible space for high-tech and start-up businesses as well as a sustainable headquarters-style office building.

The alternative proposals involve a senior living development of 91 apartments with residents’ amenities on the ground floor.

The Eagle Quarter, named after Plenty’s Eagle Iron Works, which was previously on the site, will include new pedestrian connections linking the railway station, market place and the town centre and there will be new landscaped public realm.

Other features include a new health centre, on-site residents’ gym, squash court, meeting rooms, dining rooms, garden terraces and lounge for the scheme’s residents.

The plans also include improving the existing Vue cinema and multi-storey car park, adding one floor and electric vehicle charging points.

Lochailort says the development will reduce CO2 emissions following West Berkshire Council’s declaration of a climate emergency, the overall scheme and will save more than 250 tonnes of carbon a year.

Measures include rooftop solar panels, ground source heat pumps and tree planting.

Lochailort managing director Hugo Haig said: “We are incredibly excited about these plans, which will replace this outdated and underused shopping centre with a high-quality new mixed-use scheme that will bring huge benefits, both locally, as well as to the wider community.

“Our aim is to rejuvenate this area of Newbury and provide an exciting and interesting leisure experience with a diversity of offers; shopping, food and convivial activity to the town centre that will complement the town and the region as a whole.

“We believe that the experience of living in Eagle Quarter or coming to watch a movie or eat a meal in the development will be really attractive.

“We are fortunate to have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a special place in a special town – somewhere we all would like to hang out and spend time, somewhere that people want to come to and which Newbury can be proud of.”

Planning director for Lochailort James Croucher said: “Submitting a planning application represents the next step in our plan to regenerate the Kennet Centre.

“We are very grateful for all of the feedback that we received from residents and local businesses following our public engagement event in October.

“These views were incredibly helpful and many of them were taken into account.”

Images:

  1. A view of the site as it exists now. The railway station is bottom of the image.
  2. The site as it would look with the offices and tech hub option.
  3. The site as it would look with the retirement homes option.
  4. A view showing the proposed offices to the left.
  5. A view showing the proposed retirement scheme to the left.
  6. A view looking towards the clock tower.

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