Plans for 209 riverside homes in Reading are rejected

Berkeley Homes applied for planning permission to construct a two-bedroom house, six blocks of flats and a riverside cafe on a vacant site in Vastern Road, that was once occupied by a Victorian power station.

According to the plans, the largest block would be 11 storeys tall and contain 78 flats.

To make way for the development, the company planned to demolish the three-story office building – that was recently occupied by Southern & Scottish Electricity Networks – and the locally listed entrance building.

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But Reading Borough Council's Planning Applications Committee rejected the plans on Wednesday, March 31, after planning officers raised several concerns.

In a report, the officers said the developer failed to provide "a high-quality north-south link route" through the site and two of the blocks would overshadow the river and the Thames Path.

The developer agreed to provide a three metre wide link route that could be used by pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Reading town centre and Caversham.

But officers said that would be too narrow and could have an "alleyway feel".

The path (marked in orange) developers wanted to build on the site in Vastern Road

Cllr Tony Page (Labour) said: "This isn't a little ask and it's not an add on.

"It is fundamental to the scheme and that has been made clear throughout."

Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour) added: "That has got to be delivered above all else.

"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have to get it right."

They planning officers also criticised the lack of affordable housing and said the retention of the locally listed building had not been "explored fully".

The site earmarked for 209 homes

The developer agreed to ensure around 20 per cent of the new homes (43 flats) would be affordable.

With major developments, the council usually asks for 30 per cent of the homes to be affordable, but Berkeley Homes insists that would not be viable for this development.

Caroline McHardy, land director for Berkeley Homes, said the offer of 43 affordable homes was "fair and generous".

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She added: "It is a vacant brownfield site in an excellent sustainable location.

"Redevelopment will provide much-needed, high-quality new homes for those who want to live, work and play in Reading.

"We will bring forward a high-quality north-south link through the site, creating a more direct and safer public route between Reading and Caversham."

Kim Cohen, representing planning consultants Barton Willmore, said the developer has "made every attempt to improve the scheme" but council planning officers "don't feel we've gone far enough".

Berkeley Homes can now appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.