One of Reading’s MPs is opposing a plan for new homes right on the outskirts of Reading which he fears could ‘set a precedent’.

Earlier this year, landowner Wayne Courtnage submitted a plan to demolish workshops at ‘The Piggery’ in Gravel Hill, Caversham and replace them with two new five bedroom homes.

Recently, the plan was adapted to remove a proposed garage and basement from one of the homes, dubbed ‘building A’.

However, the proposal is being opposed by Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East.

READ MORE: Reading MP opposes plan for homes on Caversham outskirts

In a letter opposing the development, Mr Rodda said the application has caused “great consternation among local residents”, listing road safety, traffic, parking and concerns about the environmental impact.

In a consultation Mr Rodda ran, 98 per cent of respondents were concerned about developments in green land on the edge of Reading.

He expressed fears that set a precedent both for new developments on the outskirts of Reading and homes being built on green land in the Chilterns.

The site is right on the outskirts of Caversham, and falls within South Oxfordshire Council’s jurisdiction.

Additionally, 96 per cent of those who responded to the consultation were concerned about the precedent of building next to Reading, just over the boundary in South Oxfordshire.

Mr Rodda said: “The vast majority of respondents [to the consultation] are concerned about development on green land on the edge of Reading.

“There is significant pressure on green land in the Chilterns, particularly near the boundary with Reading. Developments of this type would set a precedent which could encourage further development.”

The application has been submitted for prior approval under class ZA of the Town and Country Planning Act 2020.

The law states that unused workshops can be replaced with homes through prior approval, which accepts the development can take place but requires details such as the appearance, amenity space and other issues attached to the proposal to be approved by the local planning authority first before work can start.

Mr Courtnage’s planning agents The Keen Partnership have argued the development complies with prior approval rules and should therefore be approved.

An email sent by The Keen Partnership pointed out Reading Borough Council has not objected to the two new homes on transport and highway grounds, with Gravel Hill being a ‘dead end road’, therefore limiting the impact the development would have on traffic.

The houses would have two car parking spaces each.

But the email suggests that the plan is likely to be refused by South Oxfordshire District Council, leading to an appeal to get it approved to the Government’s planning inspectorate.

You can view the application by typing in reference P22/S0339/ND1 into South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning website.

A similar application to build six apartments on the site, reference P21/S0897/ND1, was withdrawn by Mr Courtnage last year.