Newbury Racecourse and David Wilson Homes Southern were granted outline planning permission in 2010 for the major redevelopment of the racecourse. This is an entirely unique project, with no other racecourse in the world offering the racing, leisure and residential elements this special partnership has created.
The regeneration of the 106 year old site will include improvements to the racing, hospitality, conference and events facilities, and will provide up to 1500 new homes, 450 of which will be affordable housing. The joint venture is expected to take up to 12 years to complete.
Despite being bombed, used as a prisoner of war camp and being remodelled to serve as an American supply depot, the Grade I course has become one of the most prestigious in the world.
The racecourse generates directly and indirectly an income of around £52 million annually and employs 80 full-time staff, with on average 860 additional people employed on a part-time or casual basis for race days. The total spend from the racing industry in Newbury and West Berkshire is around £196 million per annum; a significant source of employment and wealth generation for the district. The redevelopment project, which will generate around 300 jobs, will also significantly boost the local economy, a key feature of West Berkshire Council’s Newbury Vision 2025.
The impressive transformation of our historic racecourse will safeguard the future of racing at Newbury, while creating a much more dynamic and sustainable racing and leisure destination at the heart of the community, open for business 356 days a year.
The plans in brief:
• A hotel
• Better access to the racecourse via a new bridge
• The creation of a more impressive entrance providing a real ‘sense of arrival’
• Improvements and additions to the current racing and golfing facilities
• A hostel which will predominantly serve as jockey and stable staff accommodation
• A new building for the children’s nursery at the racecourse
• Up to 1500 new homes, 450 of which will be affordable, shared equity or available to rent
Our vision
A striking trackside hotel
With superb views over the racecourse, The Newbury Hotel will be a key element in the new development, supporting the existing conference and events business to generate long term revenues for the racecourse outside the 30 days racing each year. The hotel, which will be operated by Bespoke Hotels, will include a large reception, 100-cover restaurant and bar and an informal coffee shop. Residents at the racecourse and from the surrounding area will be encouraged to enjoy the facilities on an ongoing basis.
Racecourse offices
The proposed new racecourse office is connected to the rear of the hotel building with a glazed link and will provide two floors of office space above a ground floor allocation for retail opportunities and ticketing accommodation. In the foreground is the main entrance square which will provide a greater sense of arrival and place to socialise.
Stables remodelling
The existing stables are to be upgraded and a new stretch of stables will be built to replace some that will be demolished. The new stables will include reclaimed materials and will replicate the old ones.
Hostel
The hostel will provide overnight accommodation predominantly for stable staff throughout the calendar year, and includes a reception area and canteen.
Rocking Horse Nursery
The proposed nursery will replace the existing nursery that is currently located to the rear of the Grandstand. The new nursery will be located on the western side of the site to improve accessibility.
Racecourse Edge
Racecourse edge consists of apartments and the hotel overlooking the racetrack, with architecture complementing the grandstands and landscaped courtyards enhancing the unique setting.
The Boulevard
The homes here are a contemporary interpretation of the Victorian architecture within the surrounding area. The housing materials will include traditional brickwork and pitched roofs. Townhouses with two and three storeys create attractive street scenes, with the architecture and green open space inspired by the park-like setting of the racecourse.
Hambridge Road
The view from Hambridge Road looks towards the proposed trackside apartments and the north/east/west aspect facing apartments. These elevations draw on the site’s existing traditional red brick with balcony detailing breaking up the façades.
A great choice of homes in a truly unique setting
Newbury Racecourse provides a very special location offering fantastic racing, pop concerts, superb hotel facilities and much more. There’s a great choice of homes, from contemporary trackside apartments and exective homes to townhouses in traditional crescents and squares.
What’s next?
Detailed designs for the Western and Central areas of the site have been submitted to West Berkshire Council. Subject to the necessary reserved matters planning consents, it is anticipated construction will start in winter 2011/spring 2012.