A plan for two disused houses to be demolished and replaced with nine new ones has been criticised as “sad”.

Applicant Elstree Land are seeking to turn a two-bed house and several vehicle repair garages into nine houses spanning two different roads near Reading Station.

They want to build eight three-bed houses and one three-bed coach house on Swansea Road and Northfield Road.

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Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee will vote on the plans on Wednesday evening (February 5).

Sarah Brannan, who lives opposite the site, has objected to the proposal.

She said the second story windows will allow a view into her bedroom and the planned buildings are “insufficiently in keeping with the existing Victorian terraces”.

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Another commenter Kathryn McCann has also criticised the plans and suggested alternative proposals for the site including a cafe.

She said: “These designs look OK, but it seems a shame to demolish characterful Victorian originals and replace them with pastiches.

“Could the existing building on the corner not be refurbished, with internal wall insulation added, and brought back into use?

“Ideally I would like to see it as a business unit, rather than a home. A lovely site for a little independent cafe, something like Shed, maybe with associated creative workspaces.

“I think it’s sad for an area that has always been very characteristic of a former industrial town to turn into a sea of terraced houses.”

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Council officers have backed the development as they believe:

  • It would clean up a long disused site
  • The existing building are not of sufficiently high quality to restrict the demolition
  • The replacement buildings have been designed to integrate sympathetically within the streets

Neighbour Marion Owens is in support, commenting: “Having lived opposite this derelict site for 12 years, we welcome the new development as we feel it will greatly enhance the aesthetics of the road.”

Nine parking spaces would be provided in a private parking court accessed through the coach house.

The council report states any permission would need to be subject to a condition preventing future occupiers of the development from being eligible to apply for residents or visitor parking permits.