The council is asking itself for permission to demolish the former kids care home at York House, 50 Andover Road, so it can build four townhouses. Interestingly, West Berkshire also wants to break its own parking rules and provide two spaces per house. The yardstick is usually 1.5 per new dwelling, and in Newbury rarely over 1 per house.

Meanwhile, the historic Newtown Road car showroom, on the college roundabout, is also under threat from plans to replace the showroom and forecourt with a block of 10 flats, with 11 parking spaces and 10 cycle spaces. An earlier plan was rejected by town planners, and the garage is listed.