Amendment approved for ongoing NatWest bank conversion to shops and flats in Thatcham High Street

A non-material amendment to the ongoing conversion of the former NatWest bank in Thatcham High Street has been approved.

A proposal by RG Berkshire Properties to convert the bank to two ground floor retail units with four flats above was conditionally approved by West Berkshire Council in May 2022.

It also included two separate doors and shopfronts and rear extensions for both floors.

The council has now approved a proposed amendment by Transhomes LTD to amend the wording of Condition 5 (that no demolition or works can begin without an agreed programme of archaeological work) to reflect Wessex Archaeology taking over from Independent Archaeology Consultants with a second phase of archaeological investigation onsite.

The purpose of the written scheme is to detect and record any archaeological features or artefacts within the application boundary.

The council’s archaeologist previously suggested the site may contain archaeological remains from the medieval and post-medieval period.

Its conservation officer also raised concerns about the amount of alteration proposed at the pre-application stage, but later felt the Heritage Impact Assessment addressed their concerns.

The building itself likely dates to the 18th century date and was Grade-III listed until a 1980s review.

The landowner must turn over any finds recovered, except human remains, to a museum under the Treasure Act 1996.

Thatcham’s NatWest branch closed in June 2018.

The town also lost its Lloyds branch in 2022, Barclays branch in 2020 and HSBC branch in 2016.