Proposal:                   Demolition of the existing building and redevelopment of the site comprising erection of a new building for up to 170 build to rent residential dwellings (Use Class C3) together with flexible community space (Use Class F1/F2), residents’ facilities, landscaping, public realm, amenity space and cycle parking. (Amended description)

Recommendation:   Grant, subject to S106

Demolition of the existing building and redevelopment of the site comprising erection of a new building for 170 build to rent residential dwellings (Use Class C3) together with flexible community space (Use Class F1 (a-b and c-d), F2 (a – b)), and residents’ facilities, landscaping, public realm, amenity space and cycle parking (amended description).

The Committee considered a report on the above application.  An update report was tabled at the meeting which set out details of additional consultation comments received, materials, the agreed Deferred Payment Mechanism terms, compliance with SuDS standards, comments from Active Travel England, landscaping, decentralised energy and highways matters.  The update report amended the recommendation to remove requirements that had been fulfilled since publication of the original report and to include an additional requirement for submission of satisfactory details addressing Active Travel England standing advice regarding sustainable travel to the site, as the applicant had not been able to conduct the required assessment due to the late identification of this missed statutory consultation.  The update report also recommended additional conditions relating to sustainable drainage and a Travel Plan.

Comments and objections were received and considered.

Richard Bennett, on behalf of Reading Civic Society and the Conservation Area Advisory Committee who had commented on the application, and the applicant’s agent Katherine Russell, attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this application.

At the meeting an additional condition was proposed to require submission of details of how the proposed community space would be accessed and managed.

Resolved –

(1)          That the Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection Services be authorised to grant planning permission for application PL/24/1155 (FUL), subject to receipt of satisfactory details addressing Active Travel England standing advice regarding sustainable travel to the site, and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement by 30 January 2026 (unless a later date be agreed by the Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection Services) to secure the Heads of Terms set out in the original report, with the amendments and additions set out in the update report;

(2)          That the Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection Services be authorised to make such minor changes to conditions or such additional conditions required, make such minor changes to Heads of Terms and details of the legal agreement as may reasonably be required to issue the permission;

(3)       That, in the event of the requirements set out not being met, the Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection Services be authorised to refuse permission;

(4)       That planning permission be subject to the conditions and informatives as recommended in the original report, with the additional conditions as recommended in the update report, and an additional condition to require that prior to occupation a management plan and pricing schedule for use of the community space be submitted for approval.