Currently the building is a utilitarian brute with its content and function under-utilising a prime town centre location. We suggested adding a glass box to the roof, which could contain anything from an observation garden to a restaurant or nightclub, while cloaking the building in something sparkly to hide the concrete and show itself off.

A zip wire and climbing wall could also be included, bringing new activity and attractions to the area. Market towns are desperate to attract footfall, as shopping and working patterns have changed and places like Newbury are having to reinvent themselves to attract visitors onto their high streets.

This suggestion could be one of several potential opportunities for Newbury to do this and give some love to an unloved building at the same time. Commercially it would need to be viable, but we don’t see why it shouldn’t be – get the right mix of operators and developers together and the scheme could fly.