Demolition of existing office building and construction of new 182 bed student accommodation development, over 7 storeys of accommodation plus lower ground floor, together with ancillary landscaping, parking and amenity space.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above application.  An update report was tabled at the meeting which set out information on consultation responses and affordable housing.  The report recommended amendments to the proposed reasons for refusal regarding affordable housing.

Comments and objections were received and considered.

Resolved –

          That the application be refused for the following reasons, with the informatives set out in the report:

1.       It has not been clearly demonstrated how this proposal for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) meets an identified need that cannot be met on those identified sites within the Emerging Local Plan allocated for student accommodation or on those sequentially preferable sites. Alexander House is a specifically allocated housing site within the Emerging Local Plan required to meet the Borough’s identified housing needs. Its loss to an alternative use has not been justified and would further reduce the Council’s ability to meet its general and affordable housing need within its own boundaries. The proposal therefore does not comply with Policy H12 and Policy ER1g of the Emerging Local Plan and conflicts with the aims of the NPPF.

2.       In the absence of a completed legal agreement to secure a construction phase  Employment and Skills Plan and use of the living accommodation to be occupied as student accommodation (Sui Generis) only, the proposal will not mitigate its impact on the social and economic infrastructure of the Borough, contrary to Policies CS3 and CS9 of the Reading Borough LDF Core Strategy 2008 (Altered 2015), Policy DM3 of the Reading Borough LDF Sites and Detailed Policies Document 2012 (Altered 2015) and the Council’s Adopted Supplementary Planning Documents on Employment, Skills & Training (2013) and Planning Obligations under Section 106 (2015).