New scheme for flats on former brewery site in Wallingford

Winslade Investments has this month submitted its third application to demolish buildings off Goldsmiths Lane, despite two previous applications being thrown out.

The company now wants to build 14 one and two-bedroom apartments on the site of the former Portcullis social club, which closed in 2016.

Some of the buildings date back to the 1700s and although they are not listed they are in the town's conservation area.

Tim Coleman, director and owner of Winslade Investments, insisted the brewing heritage of the area would be taken into account and incorporated into the roof design, with the new development likely to be named Brewhouse Yard.

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However Wallingford town councillor Ros Lester, who has also served as mayor twice, said she remained opposed to the scheme.

She said: "The developers want to demolish the old Charles Wells brewery buildings and to me it would be a tragedy to get rid of something like that. "These buildings are in the conservation area and I don't want to see them demolished.

"We should think carefully about how the space could be used in this part of the town centre – it would make the most fantastic heritage site.

"Perhaps it's too late now but it's the sort of location where a new micro-brewery could have been set up."

The latest application is due to be decided by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) by May 13.

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Town councillors discussed the application at their meeting on Monday and their views will be passed to SODC, which will decide if the flats can be built.

Two earlier applications for 15 and then 14 homes were refused planning permission in 2017 and last year after concerns were raised about the density of the development and the location of the site, where vehicle and pedestrian access is limited in Goldsmiths Lane as there is no pavement.

The district council's last refusal is now subject to an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.

Planning consultants acting for developers said they 'did not accept that redevelopment would increase use of Goldsmiths Lane by vehicles'.

A statement from the John Phillips Planning Consultancy added: "It is likely that there will be a different pattern of visitation with the residential use, compared to club-type use, but as the transport statement makes clear the level of traffic envisaged is not of a level that could cause real harm."

A Soha Housing scheme in 2016 for 23 flats for over-55s at St Alban's Court on the opposite side of the lane was given planning permission with only six parking spaces provided.

The earliest buildings appeared to date back to the 18th century, following the founding of The Wells Brewery in the 1720s.

Numerous changes and further building work was carried out during the mid-19th century, and parts of the brewery were sold and extensively altered in the 20th century.

The Portcullis Social Club became vacant in 2016 and needed major refurbishment.

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Sue Hendrie, who lives in Church Lane, said she wanted to spread the word that the buildings were of architectural and historic significance and could certainly be converted to a new use.

She added: "The southern block was very probably the brewery stables and is built of handmade soft red brick with beautiful silvery blue vitrified headers.

"These buildings give a texture and character to Goldsmiths Lane which cannot be replaced by contemporary buildings."

Town councillor Adrian Lloyd said the council objected previously on the grounds of overdevelopment, the lack of car parking and overlooking of The Mint apartments, a listed building on the other side of Goldsmiths Lane.

He added: "The car parking issue has now been addressed – without that, delivery vehicles would have to park in Goldsmiths Lane itself."