®Planning appeal decision
1 West Street, Newbury, RG14 1BE
Planning appeal 3322317 at 1 West Street, Newbury, RG14 1BE (West Berkshire District Council) was dismissed on 5 October 2023 by Inspector Hall R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, with particular regard to the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area.
demolition of the existing building and construction of 24No. flats
- Authority
- West Berkshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Hall R
- Postcode
- RG14 1BE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, with particular regard to the Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area
- whether the proposal provides sufficient outdoor amenity space for its future occupants
- whether the proposal is acceptable with respect to flood risk
What decided it
The proposal failed the flood risk sequential test because the area of search was unduly restrictive and did not demonstrate that there were no reasonably available sites at lower flood risk in other settlements that could accommodate the development.
The benefits of housing supply (moderate weight), removal of a vacant building, preservation and enhancement of the conservation area, and modest economic and social benefits were outweighed by the failure to satisfy the flood risk sequential test and the absence of wider sustainability benefits to justify the exception test.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS1Policy CS4Policy CS6Policy CS14Policy CS16Policy CS19Policy ADPP1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 14Paragraph 159Paragraph 162Paragraph 164
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.