ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR PIONEERING £300m REDEVELOPMENT OF NEWBURY RACECOURSE
Detailed plans for the first phase for the multi million pound redevelopment of Newbury Racecourse has been consented by West Berkshire Council. After six years in planning this milestone enables the development to move to the next stage.
The scheme is a joint venture between Newbury Racecourse and David Wilson Homes Southern and is set to transform the 309 acre site. Proposals for its redevelopment started six years ago and have involved an extensive public consultation programme to ensure local community involvement from the start. Outline planning was achieved in April 2010 for the master plan which includes improvements to the racing, hospitality, conference and events facilities. These are being complemented by better access via a new bridge, a hotel and up to 1500 new homes; 450 of which will be affordable shared equity housing or available to rent.
This detailed consent is for the Western Area, the first of three tranches of new homes at the racecourse which comprises 294 homes for private sale and 127 for affordable housing. The entire development will take around 12 years to complete and is expected to create around 300 new jobs for local people, including apprenticeships and will significantly boost the local economy.
Sarah Hordern, joint managing director at Newbury Racecourse says: “This is an important milestone in the redevelopment of the racecourse. The approval ensures that our stated strategy of redeveloping the racecourse to protect the heritage of racing at Newbury and its highly regarded race programme is firmly on track. It follows on from the success of the Party in the Paddock and Newbury LIVE events that have also demonstrated the appeal of the racecourse as vibrant leisure and events business with horseracing at its core.”
Paul Crispin, managing director of David Wilson Homes Southern commented: “We are delighted with the outcome of the committee meeting. There’s still much to be done before we can put a spade in the ground but without this consent we couldn’t move forward. It’s well reported that there’s a major shortage of new and affordable homes and this is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a great selection of new homes in such a fabulous historic location.”
Designed to appeal to a wide cross-section of home owners, there will be one, two and three bedroom apartments and two bedroom maisonettes; houses will range from two to five bedrooms. Prices are expected to start in the region of £165,000. All the homes will achieve the Code for Sustainable Homes Level Three. In the Western Area, the homes embrace the character of existing buildings at the racecourse where they capture the spirit and grandeur of the grandstands. The design also incorporates tree-lined streets with traditional crescents, courtyards and squares.
Designing the scheme for Newbury Racecourse and David Wilson Homes Southern is the award winning practice Glenn Howells Architects. Director Glenn Howells says: “We’re very proud this design has won approval and we’re relishing the opportunity to play a part in the regeneration of Newbury Racecourse; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to positively affect Newbury’s future.”
Following the planning consent, work now commences on the working drawings and fulfilling the conditions and consents. Building is anticipated to start in late spring/early summer 2012 with the first homes being ready for occupation by the end of 2012.
