Developer wins appeal for 209 homes at Reading SSE site

Berkeley Homes had submitted a plan to build the 209 homes at the old SSE site  in Vastern Road, but its application was refused by Reading Borough Council’s planning committee in April 2021.

However, Berkeley Homes has managed to get the refusal decision overturned after appealing to the Government planning inspectorate.

The council’s committee refused the plan because it failed to provide an adequate north-south pedestrian and cycle travel link between Reading and Caversham.

It also judged that the development would overshadow the River Thames, and that Berkeley Homes had failed to provide enough information about how it would contribute to Reading’s housing needs and mitigate the impact the development would have on the borough.

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But planning inspector Andrea Mageean disagreed, with her decision stating that: “The appeal scheme would deliver a significant amount of new housing on part of an allocated brownfield site in a highly sustainable location.”

She also pointed out that the site is identified for development in the Reading Local Plan.

On the issue of a pedestrian and cycle route in the development, inspector Mageean judged that the route in the plan would be adequate, and could be controlled through planning conditions.

Meanwhile, at the meeting where the application was refused, council planning officers argued that the foot and cycle route through the development would be too narrow and could have an “alleyway feel”.

The council’s refusal also stated that the scheme breached a number of different policies in the Local Plan covering design (policies CC7, CR2 AND CR3) protection of the River Thames (policy EN11) and safeguarding amenities for existing and future residents (policies CC8, EN16 and CR6).

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The plan also proved controversial because it involves demolishing the Reading Power Plant building at 55 Vastern Road, which dates back to 1903 and is locally listed.

Developers can apply to demolish locally listed buildings as they are not afforded the same amount of protection as nationally listed buildings.

While inspector Mageean said the fact that it is locally listed gives it a “low level or modest degree of significance”, if it were to be nationally listed the loss of the Power Plant would be significant.

55 Vastern Road, the locally listed Reading Power Plant building. Credit: Built Heritage Consultancy

You can view inspector Mageean’s decision by typing reference APP/E0345/W/21/3276463 into the Government planning inspectorate website.

The 209 homes will be contained within seven named buildings in the development, which would have names associated with the site’s past.

The buildings will range from one to 11 storeys tall, with the tallest containing 78 apartments, with the development also containing a Thameside cafe and a new link to Chrischurch Bridge.

The seven named buildings for the former SSE site redevelopment in Reading. A new café and link to Christchurch Bridge will also be built. Credit: Berkeley Homes

You can view the now approved application by typing reference 200188 into the council’s planning website.

It is understood the council’s planning department is considering its legal options on how to proceed.