Big wins by developers in Reading will see 353 homes built

When the council’s planning department and committee reject plans, the developer has a right to appeal against the decision to the government’s planning inspectorate.

The case is then decided on by an inspector after examining evidence submitted.

While the council’s planning department has a generally good success rate against planning appeals, it did lose in two big cases.

In the first, the council’s refusal of the Berkeley Homes plan to build 209 homes on the old SSE site in Vastern Road was overturned.

In the appeal that was decided in March, inspector Andrea Mageean ruled the development would provide ” a significant amount of new housing in a highly sustainable location.”

A CGI for the 209 home plan for Vastern Road, Reading. Credit: Berkeley Homes

The council also lost when developer Tene Living won approval to convert Soane Point in Market Place from offices into 144 apartments after an appeal.

In that case, decided in May, inspector Rachael Pipkin ruled that the office conversion would provide suitable accommodation and future occupants would not be unduly impacted by noise disturbance and contamination.

These successful appeals mean a total of 353 homes could be built, provided the developers are able to deliver on the plans they submitted.

Soane Point in Market Place, Reading town centre. It is set to be converted into 144 apartments. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Of the 30 appeals counted this year, 18 were dismissed, 11 were allowed and one was a split decision, relating to a certificate of lawful use of 82 Brighton Road as a home of multiple occupation.

Therefore, the council has a 60 per cent success rate for getting appeals dismissed, with 40 per cent getting backing.

An example of a refused appeal was BAE Systems application to convert offices into 23 apartments above Pitcher & Piano in the town centre.

Meanwhile, a plan to build a shop and four flats on unused land next to the Mad Hatter Pottery Painting cafe was allowed on appeal.

Land next to 114-116 School Road in Tilehurst. Credit: Google Maps

Appeal rates were discussed by at a planning committee meeting, which received a monitoring report from its planning department, covering performance in quarters 1 and 2 of 2022/23 (April to September 2022).

According to the report 62.5 per cent of appeals have been dismissed.

READ MORE: The Reading developers who have won or lost plans on appeal

During the meeting, the council’s development manager Julie Williams stated the department is facing staffing pressures, and gave figures for how many applications have been decided, enforcement action taken, and how much the department has gained in fees.

A 2.6 per cent increase in building control fees was agreed.

Councillor Josh Williams (Green, Park) asked whether reports to councillors on key enforcement issues would be re-introduced following their stoppage during the pandemic.

Mr Williams said: “I share with you your frustration on this but we’ve been pending a reorganisation for some time, which has started to move this year, and part of that reorganisation is that planning enforcement will move to public protection team.

“With apologies, existing staff have been focused on investigations.”

READ MORE: Reading town centre 144 flats plan described as 'rabbit hutches'

READ MORE: Plan for Reading office block could see it total 182 flats 

She said the public protection team has begun a search for a planning enforcement officer, implying more can be done once this staff member is hired.

The meeting took place on November 2.