A plan for 427 flats at the former homes of Iceland and Wickes has been scaled back.

The plan at land on Weldale Street and Chatham Street, in the town centre, was begrudgingly approved by councillors in November 2017.

Demolition of the old stores is almost complete, with the development of the 422 flats now to follow rather than 427.

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The developer, Ropemaker Properties, said the reduction in flats by five was needed because of a council “legal error” which changed the description of the application from ‘up to 427’ homes to simply ‘427’ homes.

But Reading Borough Council (RBC) said it did not “blunder” in its approval of 427 homes.

The council said it agreed with the developer prior to approving the plan to change the description of the development to state a precise number of units.

Ropemaker Properties was granted permission by RBC for 427 units in 2017 but recently sought to alter the permission to provide 422 homes.

The council has agreed to the change.

Another change to the plan is a new shared space in Block A, which will include a resident’s lounge/ kitchen, gym and ‘meet & greet’ area.

Four blocks of flats will be built ranging from four to eleven storeys.

The plans also include one retail space, which could be a shop, restaurant or café.

Councillors begrudgingly approved the initial plans in 2017, criticising the low level of affordable housing – 10 per cent – as “derisory”.

The council would normally seek 30 per cent affordable housing.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Planning, said “anger, fury and indignation” should be vented at the government for not enabling the council to refuse such a  plan.

However, he did welcome the scheme’s potential to rejuvenate the “slum” area.

The reduction in the number of flats to 422 only very slightly increases the level of affordable housing, from 10.07 per cent to 10.19 per cent.

There will be 124 car parking spaces provided.