CHRONICLE readers have been given the opportunity to have a sneak peek inside a housing development set on a beautiful lakeside in Reading where a community hub hopes to be formed.

Green Park Village built by St Edward (part of the Berkeley Group) is located just minutes from central Reading and is close to the Madejski Stadium.

The development boasts New England style homes predominantly three and four bedroom town houses.

There are also terraced, semi-detached houses and detached properties on the lake’s edge.

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Two bedroom coach houses and apartments are also on offer making the development accessible to many.

There are 629 homes in Green Park Village and 257 are occupied.

There is also another development being built next to the village which is made up entirely of apartments called Bankside Gardens.

The properties are surrounded by open green space with plans for the future including trim trails around the lake and nature paths for people to enjoy.

Debbie Horwood, project sales manager at St Edward, said there will be picnic areas and benches dotted around so people can “sit and enjoy the beauty of the water”. There will also be viewing platforms on the water’s edge and plans for water features to be installed.

The development’s future community has also been considered.

Residents are encouraged to use more environmentally friendly modes of transport with the provision of secure cycle storage and nearby public transport links.

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Ms Horwood also said there will be a market square which will be seated and landscaped and there are plans to have ribbon lights trailing to the water’s edge.

Visions of the community coming together in a farmer’s market within market square have been discussed. There is also a retail space next to it where there is potential for a shop to open.

Ms Horwood said: “We envisage a coffee shop stroke convenience so somewhere where you can go and buy some milk, bread, paper, just small things really and somewhere that you can sit out and enjoy the environment and meet up with your neighbours.”

As well as enjoying the market square, residents will also be able to come together in an amphitheatre-style space right on the lake’s edge.

Children will also benefit because next to the market square will be a two-form primary school which is due to open in September. Within it, there will be a community hall.

Whilst the development gives residents the chance to explore nature, it is also just minutes away by bus from the hustle and bustle of Reading’s town centre.

And for those fancying a trip into London, there is a new train station being constructed on the edge of Green Park Village.

In addition to considering the community, St Edward have also thought of sustainability.

The company explained all homes come with thermal insulation, thermostatically controlled heating and smart meters.

A bug hotel is also located on site to encourage wildlife and a new family of swans have made themselves at home on the lake.

For those wishing to make an appointment to view the properties, there have been changes made to keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

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People can visit the marketing suite and showhomes by appointment only and the numbers of visitors at any one time are limited. The company will also be enforcing people to wear masks and once people have visited the marketing suite and showhomes are cleaned.

Virtual appointments are also available online for people too.