Train operator Great Western Railway have announced that they have submitted plans for the redevelopment of Newbury railway station.
Working with West Berkshire Council and Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) the scheme is designed to help and support the town's economic development.
The plans include remodelling the station buildings and interchange facilities which will improve the customer experience.
The ticket gates will be housed inside for the first time, seven on the north side and six on the south side.
The changes will also provide three new business units next to the station.
Other improvements planned for the station at Newbury include a new multistorey car park which will provide an additional 160 parking spaces.
A second cycle hub will be added to provide another 300 extra spaces along with CCTV for extra security, the first opened earlier this year.
Work on the development of the station is expected to be completed next year.
GWR Business Development Director Tom Pierpoint said: “It's exciting to have been able to reach this stage of the project where we are able to submit our plans to continue the redevelopment of Newbury station – meeting a long-held ambition of ours to better support our customers and the wider area.
“Newbury station is a key gateway to the town and this work will help secure the economic prosperity of the region as we seek to build back better from the pandemic.”
Bob Mountain, vice chair of the Berkshire Local Transport Body and board director at Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, said: “We're thrilled with the progress of this project. The redevelopment of the station will not only encourage sustainable travel by creating a high-quality sustainable transport hub but create a gateway to the growing and ambitious town of Newbury. As we continue to plan for growth alongside government actions, the three new business units are expected to support start-ups creating up to 23 jobs.”
West Berkshire Council's executive member for Economic Development, Ross MacKinnon, said: “This is brilliant news for Newbury and the surrounding area – the new units at the station will provide much-needed additional space for local business start-ups to expand and grow in a really sustainable location.
“In recent months, we've been focussing on supporting local businesses to respond and adapt to Covid-19, including administering grants and other financial support. But we also need to look to the future, doing whatever we can to help the West Berkshire economy to recover and grow in a post-Covid world.
“I'm confident that this investment from our partners will support the local economy to get back on track and help us deliver our long-term strategic priority – helping businesses to start, develop and thrive in West Berkshire.”
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Since the electrification was extended to Newbury and GWR are operating electric service between Reading and Newbury. Maybe GWR could inherit the Class 387/3 from c2c or Class 379 from Greater Anglia to work on the Reading-Newbury shuttle.