Developer committed to refurbish site despite objection

A BUILDING supplies company has said it is “committed” to having a “positive and active” presence in Henley after its plans to refurbish a store in the town were recommended for refusal by the town council for a second time.

Stark Building Materials UK wants to refurbish the Gibbs and Dandy site to open a Jewson store in Reading Road.

The company, which owns both brands after acquiring Jewson in March 2023, wants to demolish part of the site, alter existing buildings and install cantilever racking. Once complete, the Jewson branch will close and the operations will be relocated to the new site.

Stark submitted amended plans in November after its initial plans were recommended for refusal by Henley Town Council in August and drew criticism from neighbours who labelled them as “overbearing”.

Its new plans involve a reduction of the overall height of the racking and cladding over the main building by 1m and reducing the projection of the racking by about 2m.

The amendments also include the retention of part of the existing brickwork and metal sheet cladding over the main branch building and the planting of trees on the corner of Reading Road and Perpetual Park Drive.

The developer says the aim is to “transform the dilapidated site and significantly improve the external appearance of the existing site”.

Henley town council’s planning committee has said it accepted the principle of the development on the site and “recognised” that the application has merit and appreciated the work that has gone into the amendments.

But it went on to say that it believed the objections had not been addressed in regard to size and mass and frontage design impact in the conservation area.

It said: “In addition, the committee considers that the frontage needs further softening in terms of planting and screening, given its prominent position on Reading Road.”

A spokeswoman for Stark told the Henley Standard the company would continue to pursue the plans, adding: “We remain committed to having a positive and active presence in the town to support the local trades.”

South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, will make the final decision.