Back in 1967 the chairman of the borough planning authority (Alderman Freeman) spoke about the proposed new Barclays Bank building in the Market Place.
Justifying their approval of plans for the new building he said "some members view it with absolute horror, but three experts we have consulted think it absolutely first class." and "We are told that in a few years time we shall look back on this an say it is the finest building to be erected in Newbury in post-war years."
Well, a fair few years have passed and Barclays are soon to vacate the building. Is it as good as the experts said? Or would you prefer to see it replaced with a more traditional building? Or an ultra modern design?
Perhaps as it was a Post Office building they didn't have any choice.
I think it is a common understanding that the post office tower is probably the ugliest modern building in the south of England. It's made even worse by the proliferation of aerials on top. I wonder if they all obtained planning permission.
Barclay's bank is not that bad for a town centre business building. Some thought has gone into the design to make it a little softer and as already has been said, the roofline is in keeping.
There are a further two very bland, modern buildings in town, which are far worse than the bank. Boots in Northbrook St with those dreadful windows and the ex Vodafone building in the Broadway. More or less a brick wall with a couple of windows chucked in.
I think it is a common understanding that the post office tower is probably the ugliest modern building in the south of England. It's made even worse by the proliferation of aerials on top. I wonder if they all obtained planning permission.
It's ugly - but it's got a lot of competition. I can't find anything that places it as the ugliest modern building in the south of England.
The aerials probably didn't need planning permission - IIRC the Thatcher governemt exempted them from planning constraints in order to ensure a decent mobile phone network could be put together quickly.
Barclay's bank is not that bad for a town centre business building. Some thought has gone into the design to make it a little softer and as already has been said, the roofline is in keeping.
Apparently there was a lot of consideration to bricks that should be used - resulting in the choice of (IMO) a particularly dreadful colour (at a time when local bricks were still available).
There are a further two very bland, modern buildings in town, which are far worse than the bank. Boots in Northbrook St with those dreadful windows and the ex Vodafone building in the Broadway. More or less a brick wall with a couple of windows chucked in.
Of course, there is the cinema..........
I'm told that a member of the planning committee that approved the Broadway monstrosity was appalled when he saw the result - claiming that he had no idea it was going to be so big .
The old council building (Mill Reef House) in Cheap Street is also impressively awful. Sadly there are many other examples: Iceland/Fabric Land etc block in Bartholomew St. The Kennet Centre (varying in awfulness depending on which bit you look at, but none of it is good). The only good thing about the cinema design is that it masks a chunk of the Kennet Centre. Halford House (Waterstones etc) and about 10 more Northbrook St buildings.
And, need I say it: Parkway (particularly the Park Way frontage).
It's ugly - but it's got a lot of competition. I can't find anything that places it as the ugliest modern building in the south of England.
The aerials probably didn't need planning permission - IIRC the Thatcher governemt exempted them from planning constraints in order to ensure a decent mobile phone network could be put together quickly.
Apparently there was a lot of consideration to bricks that should be used - resulting in the choice of (IMO) a particularly dreadful colour (at a time when local bricks were still available).
I'm told that a member of the planning committee that approved the Broadway monstrosity was appalled when he saw the result - claiming that he had no idea it was going to be so big .
The old council building (Mill Reef House) in Cheap Street is also impressively awful. Sadly there are many other examples: Iceland/Fabric Land etc block in Bartholomew St. The Kennet Centre (varying in awfulness depending on which bit you look at, but none of it is good). The only good thing about the cinema design is that it masks a chunk of the Kennet Centre. Halford House (Waterstones etc) and about 10 more Northbrook St buildings.
And, need I say it: Parkway (particularly the Park Way frontage).
Says a lot about our planning Department and WBC? I wonder what the thoughts are for our proposed Pigeon Loft Pavilion?
Well, a fair few years have passed and Barclays are soon to vacate the building. Is it as good as the experts said? Or would you prefer to see it replaced with a more traditional building? Or an ultra modern design?
All it needs is some Griffin wooden cladding to bring it into the 21st century.
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