An artists impression of the new Anchor store proposed for Parkway.

A new planning application from Standard Life Investments, will mean a substantial change to the southern end of the new Parkway development. The new application will involve the provision of space for a second anchor store to join Debenhams as part of the multi million pound scheme.

Indications are that John Lewis will be the occupants, joining Poole, Croydon, Swindon and Tunbridge Wells as the Homestore concept is rolled out across the UK. Exeter is due to open in Summer 2011 bringing a boost to retail confidence in city/town centre locations, followed by Newbury and Chester in the Autumn. The major signing, which may be announced before Christmas, should encourage other national retailers to sign up for the remaining vacant units.

Several retail units surrounding Victoria Place will be amalgamated to form the new store along with the extension of the main block. A new pedestrian bridge will be constructed across Marsh Lane. The new plan will also see the loss of some car parking spaces.

Newbury.net understands that construction work may already be underway in anticipation that the planning application submitted on November 5th will be approved.

The Parkway scheme is due to open next Autumn in time for Christmas 2011.

They must anticipate a lot of flooding if the flagship store is selling anchors.

Quoted from user23.3

They must anticipate a lot of flooding if the flagship store is selling anchors.

Mmmm and the seagulls will be crapping on Camp Hopson from a great height ..........................

Quoted from user23.3

They must anticipate a lot of flooding if the flagship store is selling anchors.

At first glance I thought it was cockney for new WBC offices!!

Bit of infilling already but glad to see that we are still retaining the wood cladding scheme from sustainable forests to match the faded wood on Camp Hopson and that on the Sainsbury car park..

This little throw away line is interesting, "The new plan will also see the loss of some car parking spaces." I wonder how many and actually why ??

User will have to revise his parking space calculations.

This was the original artists impression of that corner. The view from the apartments that face south, not quite so good now

I think most of us know that artists impressions should be called: 'artist's impact mitigation exercise', or 'make it look as good as possible, but not too fantastic, to fool the planners' images.

Quoted from brian

This little throw away line is interesting, "The new plan will also see the loss of some car parking spaces." I wonder how many and actually why ??

User will have to revise his parking space calculations.

So will WBC - they were expecting £300k a year from the car parking charges.

I bet SLI are regretting the £4million sweetener to persuade Debenhams to move across town, John Lewis for free would have been a much better deal!

I'm sure forum members will remember that John Lewis came down earlier in the year, walked around a bit and said what they were being offered was 'too small' to make a 'home store' viable and went away.

All that's happened here is - realising that they be pushed up to fill some of the little units, - SLI are going to knock a few of them together to give J.L. the floorspace they said they needed.

Before we all carried away it should also be noted that 'home stores' should not be confused with 'normal' branches of John Lewis.


Threep.

Quoted from Threepwood

I'm sure forum members will remember that John Lewis came down earlier in the year, walked around a bit and said what they were being offered was 'too small' to make a 'home store' viable and went away.

All that's happened here is - realising that they be pushed up to fill some of the little units, - SLI are going to knock a few of them together to give J.L. the floorspace they said they needed.

Before we all carried away it should also be noted that 'home stores' should not be confused with 'normal' branches of John Lewis.


Threep.

The little units were approx £36K a year rent  

Not only a John Lewis but if you look just above the car in the picture it would appear the Parkway development is also getting a couple of giant eggs!

Quoted from brian

This little throw away line is interesting, "The new plan will also see the loss of some car parking spaces." I wonder how many and actually why ??

User will have to revise his parking space calculations.

According to Newbury Today, 105 spaces will be lost. Nearly 20%. Apparently there is plenty of car parking elsewhere in town.

Quoted from Archie

According to Newbury Today, 105 spaces will be lost. Nearly 20%. Apparently there is plenty of car parking elsewhere in town.

But how will this impact on the revenue WBC will get from the car park.  They have already lost £300k through the year's delay.  Will it now fall 20% pa?

Quoted from Archie

According to Newbury Today, 105 spaces will be lost. Nearly 20%. Apparently there is plenty of car parking elsewhere in town.

I'm not sure about 105 spaces. A quick count on the plans in B1 and B2 the basement parks seems to be about 50.

Coincidently, the developers have changed the structure of the apartments in block A205 and A305 from two bedroom to single bedroom. I'm not sure how many apartments this is but whatever, this is not a minor change to the masterplan.

We also lose that nice little paved area on the southeast corner which was to be known as Victoria Place. This little area is to be covered by a building which means that we no longer have a reasonably softened view from the park, replaced now with hard brickwork.

Are they going to rename Victoria Place to Victoria Pavement?