A PROPOSAL is being made to knock down two shops in Wokingham town’s Market Place, and building 60 new homes.
The land, which currently houses Robert Dyas and Lloyds Bank, is being mooted for the redevelopment, which would also include four retail units.
To create the space, the buildings at 19-20 Market Place would go, and there would be a partial demolition of neighbouring 21.
The site currently comprises a two-storey contemporary building, with set-back third storey, at 19-20 Market Place, with a Robert Dyas and a Lloyds Bank occupying the retail units on the ground floor.
Number 21 is a three-storey Georgian style building, with The Edinburgh Woollen Mill located on the ground floor and office spaces above.
Property developers Devonshire Metro Limited are behind the project and have submitted a request for a formal screening opinion to determine whether the site will need an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), ahead of the filing of a full application.
The proposed 60 new homes would be comprise one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
This would be 20 one-bedroom homes suitable for two people, 22 two-bedroom homes for three people, 14 two-bedroom homes for four people, four three-bedroom homes for five people, and one three-bedroom home for six people.
Those on the ground floor would be accessed externally, while the upper floor units would be accessed from three different internal lobby areas.
The plan proposes 37 car parking spaces for residents, comprising 31 in a covered area under a raised level and a further six spaces, including a car club space, located within Howard Close.
Residents would be able to access a private residential courtyard at the podium level and it is planned that “most dwellings” would have a private balcony or terrace too.
Three communal bike stores situated across the residential development, a further four bike stands outside, and four spaces within another dedicated bike store for the commercial units would together provide 100 spaces for bicycles.
A new pedestrian footpath leading from Market Place through to Howard Road, via a retail arcade and through a new public square to the rear of the properties, would also be created.
The adjacent buildings at 2 Denmark Street and 22 Market Place are both Grade II Listed and the site lies within the Wokingham Town Centre Conservation Area.
As such, a Heritage Assessment has been compiled by Environmental consulting company RPS Group, with the applicant outlining that their assessment has “informed the design and form” of the proposals.
The council will now make a decision ahead of a possible formal planning application being submitted in due course.
It is not yet clear whether these businesses will be lost on a temporary or permanent basis while the work is completed. The developer and the relevant businesses have been contacted for comment.
