Controversial plans to build a bungalow behind another one in Emmer Green were put on hold last night amid heckles from neighbours rubbishing claims from the developer.

Plans to build a bungalow on garden space on Kiln Road were called in for a Planning Applications committee decision after concerns were raised by a dozen neighbours about the access road, loss of biodiversity, and loss of light and privacy.

After an hour of debate at last night’s Reading Borough Council (RBC) meeting (Wednesday, November 3), the committee agreed a site visit was necessary before deciding whether to approve the application. A decision will now be made at next month’s meeting on December 1.

Access concerns

Three neighbours spoke at the meeting in opposition to the plans. Among their concerns was the planned access road for cars to the new bungalow.

Grahame Roberts, whose homes faces the turning point on the access road, said it would be too small for large vehicles and he would “be exposed to lethal pollution”.

He said the plans would have a “devastating impact” on his family.

Next-door neighbour Brenda Andrew said her garden would be inches from the access road, which would be “unsafe and noisy”.

But officers said the width “goes above and beyond requirements” and would provide “a safety zone between the roadway and fence”.

And Rosie Brace, agent for the applicant, said the plans would use an existing access road, to a cry of “rubbish” from a neighbour.

She said the access road goes beyond council standards and is “quite typical” for the area (to growing shouts of “rubbish” from neighbours) and the number of extra car trips would not be significant.

Councillor Jane Stanford-Beale said the access road “seems like it would be very close” to the neighbouring property but the agent said the width has been deemed acceptable by planning officers and the access road is an existing one (to more heckles of “rubbish”), even if it has not been used much recently.

Other concerns

Tony Champion, who lives next door on the other side, said his main objection is the loss of sunlight as he has a swimming pool in his garden, uses sunlight to partly heat it and plans to eventually run his pool entirely on solar energy.

The plan was also opposed by local ward councillor Clarence Mitchell, who told the committee it would be “perverse” to allow the development to go ahead during climate conference COP26 due to the damage it would cause to biodiversity and wildlife.

Cllr Mitchell also highlighted one of the other controversial elements of the plan, the fact it would be ‘tandem development’.

Tandem development, where one house is built behind another,  is forbidden by Reading’s Local Plan but officers argued it would need to be shown the tandem development would cause harm or the decision could be reversed by a planning inspector.

The agent for the application, Rosie Brace from ET Planning, said the plans would provide an additional family house and would not reduce neighbours’ privacy or light.

While neighbours and Cllr Mitchell claimed there would be negative impacts on biodiversity and wildlife currently inhabiting the green garden space, the case officer said the current site “is likely not suitable for a variety of animals” and biodiversity improvements would be made.

Site visit

Several councillors called for a site visit after considering comments from all parties.

Councillor Jo Lovelock, chairman of the committee, said: “I think it would have been helpful if we had that request some time ago rather than after we have had the very lengthy discussion.”

But she agreed it is “better to look if there is any doubt”.

The committee agreed to defer the decision, with only councillors Emberson and Liam Challenger opposing the delay.