New homes set for site of Reading fire where two men died

Hakeem Kigundu started a fire that killed Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, on December 15, 2021.

Kigundu, an immigrant from Uganda, lost his job and was facing eviction when he decided to pour 50 litres of petrol within the building and set it alight.

He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Mr Burgess and Mr Morris on October 7, 2022.

Since then, the old building at 63 Rowe Court has been demolished and completely cleared, making way for a replacement block to be built.

READ MORE: Where is Reading arsonist Hakeem Kigundu one year on from double fatal fire

An application for the new building was discussed at a Reading Borough Council planning meeting.

Councillor Jo Lovelock (Labour, Norcot), the chairwoman of the planning committee, said the plan for the replacement building had come forward in the ‘most tragic circumstances’.

Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, the victims of the Rowe Court fire in Reading. Credit: Thames Valley Police

Jon Murch, the agent for the developers, said the circumstances were ‘harrowing’.

He said: “The owners of the properties have lost their homes through no fault of their own, the leases give them a right to ongoing ownership.

“Nothing could happen on the site other than in accordance with those leases.”

The replacement of the building is being funded by an insurance company, which has been instructed to replace the 24 flats contained in the previous building.

The project is being undertaken as the old three-storey building with a large roof was deemed unsafe to remain and was therefore demolished.

READ MORE: Plans to rebuild flats from scratch where arsonist murdered two

The amount of flats will remain the same – the company will build 24 one-bed apartments as a mix of studios and one-bed flats.

These will be contained in a new four-storey building with roof dormers.

However, the plan was opposed by Robert Macock, a neighbour in Osborne Road, who argued that the new four-storey building would overlook into his home.

The developers provided two options for balconies on the new building, with the first option to provide front and rear balconies, the second option to have front balconies only.

The elevations for the replacement building at Rowe Court in Reading. Credit: Wilmhurst Pelleriti

Questions were also raised by councillors about screening the new building from neighbours and biodiversity, as a maple tree will be removed so that the replacement building can be established.

Council planning officer Connie Davis said three new maple trees would be provided on site.

Cllr Lovelock said that all flats should have balconies, therefore the committee agreed to go ahead with option one.

The plan for the replacement building was unanimously approved by Reading Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, March 1.

You can view the application by typing reference 221693 into the council’s planning portal.