PLANS to build 140 homes on Reading Football Club’s old training ground are expected to be approved this month.
The club wants planning permission to build the homes on Hogwood Park in Finchampstead, where they trained until their new training facility at Bearwood Park was completed in 2019.
They have drawn up plans for two, three, and four-bedroom homes on the 25 acre site and promised to ensure that 56 of them are affordable.
There are also plans to provide an area of public greenspace, known as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).
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Wokingham Borough Council’s Planning Committee is expected to approve the plans at a meeting on December 9, after they were recommended for approval by council planning officers.
The committee was due to make a decision on November 11, but that meeting was cancelled.
In a report, planning officers said the homes can be built on the former training ground “without resulting in any significant harmful impacts to the wider area”.
It adds: “The proposals would bring the site back into public use, while also providing additional affordable housing, on-site recreational facilities such as a play area, an informal playing pitch and an attractive SANG provision, all of which would benefit a wider population than just those residing on the site.”
So far, the council has received 16 letters of objection from members of the public.
Barkham Parish Council, Finchampstead Parish Council, Arborfield and Newland Parish Council have also objected.
They have raised concerns about the loss of greenspace, the loss of football pitches and additional traffic on surrounding roads.
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