A hybrid application comprising the following elements: Outline application for up to 165 dwellings on the western part of the site and a mixed use building comprising 450sqm (GIA) of floorspace in use class D1 to provide a community healthcare hub and residential above (included in the 165 dwellings); Engineering operations on the area covered by the outline application to create suitable gradients for internal site roads and development platforms for the residential development; and FUL application for change of use of the eastern part (8ha) of the site for use as public parkland, to be protected from development in perpetuity. All matters except for access to the site are to be reserved. Matters for which detailed approval are sought are: The detailed design of the vehicular access to the site from Pincents Lane and associated turning area, the location emergency vehicular access to the site and the locations of pedestrian and cycling accesses to the site.

Further to Minute 97 of the meeting held on 31 March 2021, the Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above application. 

It was reported at the meeting that comments had now been received from Transport Development Control and details were given at the meeting, which concluded that the levels of daily trips generated by the proposal would not be detrimental to traffic flow in Reading Borough and no objections were raised to the proposal.

Comments were received and considered.

Councillor Stanford-Beale queried whether the proposal would include appropriate sizes and arrangements of roads to allow a bus service to run through and turn within the site and it was suggested that a comment be made regarding the desirability of this.

Resolved –

(1)      That West Berkshire Council be informed that Reading Borough Council continued to raise no objection to the proposal and a comment be made about the provision of a bus loop through the development;

(2)      That West Berkshire Council be sent a copy of the report for their information and use.

(Councillor Stanford-Beale declared an interest in the above application as she was a Non-Executive Director of Reading Buses.)