Bid to pause London Road Industrial Estate project in Newbury is rejected
Phased approach to redevelopment will go ahead as planned
John Herring
CALLS to pause the regeneration of the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) have been defeated.
Planning consultant Avison Young says up to 280 homes, 3,473 sq m of office space and 5,400 sq m of space for other businesses could be built there.
The Liberal Democrats called in the Conservative-run council’s decision, raising concerns about its ability to manage the project, its conflict of interests and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the local economy.
They called for the project to be paused until an environmental assessment of the entire site had been carried out, the fall-out of the pandemic was more fully understood and the appropriate project management structure and expertise were in place.
Up to 2,500 homes proposed for Thatcham in West Berkshire Council housing plan
Clash over whether development will provide infrastructure town needs
John Herring
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PROPOSALS for Thatcham to grow by 25 per cent are being put forward in what would be the single largest development in West Berkshire in living memory.
West Berkshire Council has recommended north east Thatcham to take up to 2,500 homes in its Local Plan Review 2020-2037, which assesses future housing needs.
Around 170 hectares of land stretching from the top of Floral Way to Colthrop and into Midgham parish has been identified for the development.
The land, split into four separate parcels, is being put forward by a consortium of land owners and developers, including Donnington New Homes, The Wasing Estate, A2Dominion and Ptarmigan Land.