Affordable family homes coming to West Reading site

The site in Amethyst Lane, Southcote used to serve as a family support centre and an office for the council’s Protection and Planning department.

But the site has been sealed off for a number of years, and was last seen open in 2016.

Now the vacant buildings will all be demolished and replaced with affordable family-sized council homes and a new respite care facility.

The plan by Reading Borough Council administration was discussed at a recent meeting.

READ MORE: Care home site in Southcote vacant for over a decade set for new council housing

Councillor John Ennis (Labour, Southcote) said: “I very much welcome this, it’s 100 per cent affordable housing, but particularly also a respite care facility, I thank the adult social care team for creating the vision of what is desperately needed in Reading.

“A vision has been created post-Covid for respite care, linking in with other developments that we’ve agreed to, for an overall decent officer for adult social care.”

He cited the council’s schemes for a 35-place older persons day care centre and homes at the old Central Pool site, approved in March, and an additional day care centre and 42 flats in Hexham Road which was approved in November.

The amount of housing contained in the Amethyst Lane scheme was reduced so that more four-bedroom homes could be provided.

In the council’s adopted Local Plan from 2019, the site was identified for 32-48 homes.

A sketch of the Reading Borough Council vision for the Amethyst Lane homes and Day Care site. Credit: HTA

When the plan was submitted, the council applied to build 18 three-bedroom and three four-bedroom homes.

The development that has been approved is made up of the respite facility and 10 three-bed and seven four-bed homes contained within three new terraces.

All of the homes will be made available through affordable rent.

An artist impression of the approved scheme for Amethyst Lane to provide 17 homes and a respite care facility. Credit: Reading Borough Council

Councillors debated a condition which removes permitted development rights to build extensions, porches, roof works and outbuildings.

Explaining the reason for that condition, planning officer Richard Eatough said: “It means that if you are proposing any of those things a householder planning application would be required.”

Furthermore, Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) lead councillor for planning and assets clarified that the condition is designed to limit property changes if tenants exercise the ‘Right to Buy’ the council home they occupy.

The project was unanimously approved by the planning applications committee on Wednesday, December 6.

You can view the project by typing reference 230613 into the council’s planning portal.