Pound Street, Newbury

As well as providing approximately 100 new homes, our proposals would bring a number of added sustainability benefits that aren’t always delivered with new development proposals:

REDEVELOPMENT OF A BROWNFIELD SITE FOR NEW HOMES

Both local and national planning policy encourages the re-development of brownfield land for new homes.  Creating new homes on sites like these helps local authorities like West Berkshire Council to withstand pressure to build new homes on undeveloped greenfield land.

INCREASING THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE SITE WITH NEW PLANTING

Given that the site is almost entirely developed, covered in buildings and concrete hardstanding, the site has almost no biodiversity value at present.  Because our proposals include areas proposed for planting and creation of new habitats, including hedgerows and other landscaping along Pound Street and Rockingham Road, back gardens for the six proposed houses, landscaped courtyard areas and green roofs for the apartments and new tree planting on the northern boundary next to the railway, we can boost the biodiversity value of the site far beyond what it is currently.

ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE MODES OF TRAVEL, REDUCING RELIANCE ON THE PRIVATE CAR

Although we are proposing to provide 83 on-site car parking spaces and EV charging points, this site is in an excellent location to encourage sustainable travel modes like walking, cycling and train travel.  The site is five minutes’ walk from Newbury Station, providing direct services to Reading, London and South West England, and Newbury town centre is within easy walking distance along Bartholomew Street.

As well as providing bicycle parking on-site, we would also consider setting up a car club, so that residents have access to a car when they need it instead of having to maintain their own private car on-site.