A housebuilding company has laid the foundations for its contentious project to build more than 200 flats near the riverside in Reading. 

Builders for Berkeley Homes have begun work on the regeneration of the long derelict SSE power station and office site at the south bank of the River Thames after years of planning. 

Once complete, the development will provide 209 flats within eight new buildings, alongside a new riverside walk, café and pedestrian and cycle links. 

A groundbreaking ceremony took place with key partners to celebrate a significant milestone in the construction phase, to officially mark the commencement of works and celebrate the partnerships involved in bringing the project to life. 

Elkie Russell, managing director of Berkeley Homes Oxford & Chiltern said: “We are excited to transform this redundant brownfield space into a landmark place to live in the heart of Reading, delivering low carbon private and affordable homes alongside new public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

“The project will provide improved connectivity, along with greater public access, creating a shorter walk to Reading and the Station for the wider community. This is brownfield regeneration at its best - we’re hugely proud to be working in partnership with the council, Homes England and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing to transform this part of the town centre.”

The project has not all been plain sailing. A neighbour living in Lynmouth Road has accused construction work of causing damage to his £30,000 conservatory. 

Furthermore, the plan was initially rejected by Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee in 2021, with that decision being overturned by the government's planning inspectorate in 2022.

Ultimately, the project had to be revised to add extra staircases to the new buildings that will be taller than 18 metres to meet post-Grenfell fire safety measures. 

The plan for the new stair cores to comply with fire safety regulations for the 209 flats Old Power Station project in Vastern Road, Reading. The plan for the new stair cores to comply with fire safety regulations for the 209 flats Old Power Station project in Vastern Road, Reading. Credit: Berkeley Homes

These revisions were approved by councillors in March, with the affordable element of the development welcomed.

Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) lead councillor for planning said: “Residents will be aware that this development has been a long and sometimes complicated process. 

 “One of our priorities as a council is to encourage developments to deliver on much-needed affordable housing, and this site will now include 63 rent-to-buy homes.

“The regeneration of the vacant SSE site seeks to address all the aims for a sustainable development, which ties in with Reading’s net-zero carbon ambition in the form of renewable energy source."

The new buildings will have names associated with its previous use as a power station.

The named buildings plan for the Berkeley Homes old power station development in Vastern Road, on the south bank of the Thames in Reading. The named buildings plan for the Berkeley Homes old power station development in Vastern Road, on the south bank of the Thames in Reading.

Meanwhile, the street created by the development will be named in honour of Bet Tickner, a former mayor of Reading. 

Cllr Leng added: “There is a welcome nod towards the heritage of the site and I welcome the efforts, through design, to preserve the history of what is a significant site for Reading. I’m particularly pleased that this delivers on the missing link between Christchurch Bridge, the Council’s pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Thames, and the major commuter hub at Reading Station.

“I do recognise that the construction phase will be of concern to local residents, but I know Berkeley Homes are renowned for their professionalism and have a genuine commitment to considerate construction and will always take a collaborative approach with local residents."

The affordable homes will be managed by the Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Trust. 

Guy Burnett, the executive director of development at the Trust said: “We are delighted to be part of the regeneration of the long redundant Brownfield site.

“Working alongside our partners, we’re helping to transform the area, delivering the much-needed new, affordable homes, creating new community space, and improving connectivity for the whole neighbourhood.

“Regeneration projects such as this are helping to tackle the housing crisis, boost infrastructure and grow local neighbourhood economies to make them places where people have the chance to live well.”