Plan for new Aldi and a hospice by college
Housing, care home and electric car charging station also in Greenham Trust scheme
DISCUSSIONS are under way to transform the south side of Newbury with almost 100 houses, a new Aldi, a 70-bed care home, a hospice and an electric vehicle charging station.
Greenham Trust, Aldi and construction company Feltham Group are working on proposals for the mixed-use development on greenfield land between Newbury College and the A339.
Under the scheme, called Mayfield Point, around 90 “sustainable new homes” would be built adjacent to the Newbury College buildings.
The Aldi and the charging station would be built to the north of the homes, and the care home and hospice to the south, just north of the new Highwood Copse Road and the household waste recycling centre.
Access to the charging station, Aldi and residential area would be off the entrance to Newbury College, while the care home and hospice would be accessed from the new Highwood Copse link road.
Aldi says the new store won’t replace the existing outlet on London Road, adding that it “considers this well-connected location” to be ideal for a second store serving residents to the south of the town centre.
The land is currently owned by Newbury College, and its chief executive and principal Iain Wolloff said the scheme would help it continue to grow and provide opportunities for its students.
He said: “The funds generated by this development will allow the college to continue with the significant growth of provision for young people, adults and local companies as part of the Government’s plans for a skills-led recovery from the pandemic and in the growth in local ‘green jobs’.
“The development will also boost the opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience and to undertake apprenticeships in key sectors.”
Greenham Trust is also a key stakeholder in the scheme.
The trust, which distributes funds to charitable organisations and causes around West Berkshire and North Hampshire, will gain rental income from the building Aldi operates out of, using the funds to reinvest into the community.
The trust’s chief executive Chris Boulton said: “It was an opportunity to create a consolidated, mixed-use development on a really good strategic site at the southern entrance to Newbury.
“The key benefit for us is generating funds for the trust, which is important because it would make a reasonably significant increase to our giving, and that’s our raison d’etre.
“In the times we’re in, in the Covid recovery phase, charitable needs are as great, if not greater, than ever.”
Mr Boulton said the trust was in discussions with a couple of interested care home providers, but couldn’t reveal any names.
He continued: “For the care home, we have an ageing population across the UK and that’s very much the case in West Berkshire and we have limited hospice space in West Berkshire – just the community hospital.
“People in end-of-life now either have to be looked after at home or the limited facility at the community hospital or go out of area.”
Mr Boulton added that there would be significant economic benefits to the scheme, including construction, retail and care jobs, labelling the scheme a “job creator”.
A spokesperson for Feltham Construction said: “We are expecting to submit for planning within the next three months, though we are currently dealing with environmental impacts and this might change the timeline.
“With West Berkshire Council’s support, we hope to have the retail store ready sometime in 2024.
“There will be significant and numerous benefits for Newbury residents, including providing much-needed sustainable new homes and care spaces.”
A website has been put together for a consultation on the project.
For more information, visit https://www.mayfieldpoint. co.uk