Huge plans that would see hundreds of apartments being built near a Tesco superstore in Reading have been piloted.
An investment company has revealed early plans to knock down the Napier Court offices in Napier Road and replace them with 570 apartments.
Napier Court is currently made up of three two-storey office buildings situated near Tesco Extra in Napier Road and immediately north of the west-to-east railway line in Reading.
These offices could be gone for good if the plans of Peveril Securities are given the go-ahead.
CGIs of the proposed development show five interconnected apartment blocks totalling 11 storeys tall.
These would be made up of a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats.
The plan is at an early stage, with Peveril Securities and partners Sladen Estates holding a consultation into the scheme before it is submitted to Reading Borough Council.
The consultation is being held by planning agents Carney Sweeney, with comments being invited on a project website until 5pm on Monday, November 13.
Advocating for the scheme, agents at Carney Sweeney said: “The design approach has been carefully considered to create a sustainable development that will enhance the surrounding area and maximise the potential of this highly accessible site.”
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Future occupants would benefit from communal lounge, gym and workspace within the development, with a small retail unit being established at ground level.
The development would have a low amount of parking, with 56 car spaces and eight motorbike spaces being proposed.
The site is located a 10-minute walk away from Tesco Extra and 11 minutes from the main train station.
Carney Sweeney has also pointed out that Napier Court is a site allocated for redevelopment in the Reading Local Plan 2019.
However, the plan states the site has an ‘indicative capacity’ of 210-310 homes, well below the 570 being proposed.
You can fill in a completed consultation form and email it to consultation@carneysweeney.co.uk .
Alternatively, you can post the form to Carney Sweeney, Scott House, Office 3.18, The Concourse, Waterloo Station, London SE1 7LY.
Comments will be considered ahead of the planning application submission this Autumn.
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East has already commented on the plan, echoing Reading Borough Council’s call for more family homes of three beds or more to be built.
He said: “I would like to see more family houses built in Reading as we already have a large number of flats, and I am also concerned about noise from the railway affecting these flats.
“However, I am pleased the developer is proposing to clad the flats with brick, using red and grey brick to echo the brickwork used in many Victorian streets.
“I also am pleased to hear that they are proposing a significant number of affordable flats and they are considering paying for a play area in the park improve walking and cycling nearby.
“I would ask residents who have concerns to contact me at mattroddampcasework@parliament.uk .”
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