Flats plan approved at Reading 'prostitution hotspot'

The junction of Oxford Road and Western Elms Avenue has been described as a prostitution hotspot with reported incidents prompting a local GP surgery to cordon off its car park to deter trespassers.

Now, developers First Avenue Estates have won approval to replace a nearby row of garages opposite Western Elms Surgery with flats and an office building.

The proposal, that was discussed at a recent planning applications committee meeting, is hoped may help improve safety in the area.

Reading Borough councillor Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said: “It has been a famous area for anti-social behaviour and this would eliminate some of that behaviour.”

READ MORE: Reading car park closed as it becomes prostitution hotspot

Thames Valley Police, a statutory consultee, also welcomed the development as it will possibly discourage criminal activity, with new lights providing greater visibility of the area compared to the unlit garages currently on site.

The development will be made up of two buildings: one residential building containing 13 apartments and an office building containing four undercroft parking spaces.

A sketch of an approved plan to build offices and a residential building containing 13 apartments at 303-315 Oxford Road, Reading. Credit: Ascot Design

The residential building will be made up of six one-bed, four two-bed and three three-bed apartments with 16 car parking spaces being provided.

The scheme did face some criticism for a lack of three-bed flats and failing to provide affordable housing.

If it were policy complaint, 30 per cent of the development would be designated affordable.

First Avenue Estates provided a viability assessment and instead agreed to pay £57,518 to the council to provide affordable housing making up 11.6 per cent, with the remaining  18.4 per cent being provided via a ‘deferred payment mechanism’ from profits accrued by the development.

READ MORE: Trial held over alleged rape off Oxford Road 

Councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) expressed disappointment that 50 per cent of the apartment building would not be three-bedroom units.

However, he did concede that the buildings had been designed well and welcomed the development overall, saying that the area has become “a notorious spot” for anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Gavin said: “These buildings would mirror some of the Victorian features of the other buildings in the street, they would echo some of the features of the older houses and therefore fit in quite well.

“It would be a huge enhancement to the area both visually and it would tackle the anti-social behaviour.”

A sketch of the approved plan for a building containing 13 flats and an office at 303-315 Oxford Road, Reading. Credit: Ascot Design

Meanwhile, councillor Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) argued that he would have preferred to see the development made up of houses rather than apartments.

He said: “It’s an area that needs improving, but in an ideal world, we would like a couple of semis and a detached.

“These are homes, they’re still flats but we have issues around viability as we know and we work within parameters.”

The development located to the rear of 303-315 Oxford Road was unanimously approved by the committee on Wednesday, November 1.

You can view the approved application by typing reference 211626 into the council’s planning portal.