Latest news with #BBCBerkshire
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shopping centre redevelopment appeal hearing begins
The appeal against a council's decision to reject a multi-storey redevelopment of a shopping centre has begun. West Berkshire Council's planning committee rejected the proposal for a residential and retail development with more than 400 flats at the Kennet Shopping Centre in Newbury. Since then the developer has lodged another proposal for the redevelopment of the site – this time getting rid of the shopping street and multi-storey flats and proposing a mews house style housing quarter called Old Town. Richard Aston, the government's planning inspector heading the appeal hearing, said much would rest on whether the council has provided a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites. The inquiry is due to last seven days, and Mr Aston's decision is expected in August. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Shopping centre plans aim to preserve heritage Shopping centre plans rejected by council Shopping centre's £158m revamp recommended for approval Decision not made on £158m shopping centre revamp Revised flats plan unsatisfactory - campaigners West Berkshire Council Lochailort Investments Ltd
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
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Decision on major film studios pushed back
A decision on whether one of the UK's biggest film and TV studios is granted planning permission should be made next month. Investment company Greystoke Land submitted plans to build sound stages, offices and workshops near the village of Holyport, near Maidenhead, Berkshire. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead refused the application last year, citing its impact on the green belt. Officials on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said a decision on the plan was delayed until on or before 26 June. It had been expected by Thursday. The project, first announced in 2022, could create 1,500 jobs. It would extend over 43 hectares (106 acres) of land on Gays Lane in three areas. The sound stages, workshops and offices would allow multiple film and TV productions to be shot on the same day and at the same time. A "media village" would include a virtual reality studio offering CGI creation, augmented and virtual reality and gaming, while there would also be an area for open-air filming. Greystoke Land appealed to the government's planning inspectorate after the council dismissed its application. The council previously said that the case for the studios was "overstated" as a number of others have already been built in the south east of England. It cited statistics from the British Film Institute that film and TV production volumes fell by 25% between 2022 and 2024. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Government intervenes over film studio proposals Film studios proposal to go to planning inquiry Hollywood-backed film studio is refused permission Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Berkshire parents join smartphone-free campaign
More than 3,000 parents in Berkshire have backed a campaign to not get children smartphones until at least the end of Year Nine. It comes as two secondary schools, Charters School in Sunningdale and Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead, plan to ask students to hand them in at the start of the school day. The "parent pact" has been launched by campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood. Mum-of-four Jane Creswell is part of the group's Berkshire team, and said parents were "deeply, deeply concerned about smartphone usage". She said her daughter, who is now aged 14, only recently got a smartphone, and she had been the only pupil without one since Year 5. "There were times when she was pretty annoyed," she said. "The key was talk to her about my reasons." She told BBC Berkshire there were many benefits of not having a phone. "My daughter retained childhood, which is something we are taking away from them, when they are stuck inside on technology, that is not suitable for them, watching content that is for adults," she said. "It is not appropriate for them... we should be protecting our children. "This movement is hugely important and I think most parents you speak to are very onboard. "In Berkshire we are really excited to see the change and it's amazing to see schools take the lead." Prof Miranda Pallan, from the University of Birmingham, has been researching phone usage in schools and it was contributing to "poorer mental health and worse attainment". She said: "Our research and others has shown a clear association between the time spent on smartphones and social media by children and adolescents which leads to worse outcomes of mental health, wellbeing and other things like sleep, physical activity and education. "It is an issue that we need to address, more needs to be done. "We live in a world were we all interactive with phones and social media and there is a very fast paced digital landscape. "So, just taking away phones in school isn't going to be enough to address this issue in full, we have to do other things as well." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Thousands pledge to keep children smartphone-free Conservatives push for ban on phones in schools Plan to make phone use safer for teens watered down Social media ban for under-16s 'on the table' in UK Charters School Furze Platt Senior School University of Birmingham
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Company fined £4,200 after losing door move appeal
A company that failed to restore a building to comply with a council's instructions will have to pay £4,200. A retrospective application to move the front door at Hardware House, on The Green in Datchet, Berkshire, was refused in October 2023 by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. An appeal against that decision lodged with the Planning Inspectorate was refused again in October 2024. MJM Property Investments Limited admitted it breached an enforcement notice issued in August 2024 and it was told to pay a £500 fine, a £200 surcharge and £3,500 costs by Slough magistrates on 16 May. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
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Company fined £4,200 after losing door move appeal
A company that failed to restore a building to comply with a council's instructions will have to pay £4,200. A retrospective application to move the front door at Hardware House, on The Green in Datchet, Berkshire, was refused in October 2023 by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. An appeal against that decision lodged with the Planning Inspectorate was refused again in October 2024. MJM Property Investments Limited admitted it breached an enforcement notice issued in August 2024 and it was told to pay a £500 fine, a £200 surcharge and £3,500 costs by Slough magistrates on 16 May. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
