The Wharf Street Hall between the Hogshead and Vinyl Revival was partially demolished to make way for a restaurant with glass roof canopy last year, after it emerged that the building had been neglected for years.

But Station Road developer Investment Homes fell out with West Berkshire Council after planners demanded £2,000 towards surveillance cameras.

The scale of the project also upset the Newbury Society, while the town council also considered drawing up its own list of buildings to be treated sensitively. However, building work ground to a halt in April, when the site was put back on the market.

Most of the building was Georgian, and had previously been earmarked by Ask before the pasta chain moved into the old Café Rouge unit.

The new owners are happy with the £2,000 handout, but have to reapply, as the existing permission ran out in April last year.