A READING retail park could be replaced with 12 tower blocks accommodating more than 800 homes – the largest planning application submitted to the council this year.
If approved, the Forbury Retail Park would be replaced by the flats It is currently home to stores such as Furniture Village, DFS and Home Sense, as well as a KFC fast food restaurant.
The plan has been submitted by Scottish investment company Abrdn and a mixture of one-, two- and three-bed units is envisaged. Sketches suggest each home would have an open plan kitchen living room area, as well as a shower room.
Early plans revealed in February last year suggested 900 homes, but this has since been reduced.
At the time, the developers said the scheme would have environmental benefits.
Sketches show the tarmac car park replaced with paved spaces, and trees and hedges standing at the foot of the proposed towers.
A spokesperson for Abrdn said: “We’re excited to unveil our plans for this significant regeneration scheme, which seeks to make more of this sustainable, central site by creating a new community that puts green public spaces first.
“Half the site will be set aside for landscaped green spaces, significantly increasing biodiversity.
“It’s an exciting proposal that seeks to show our ethos of responsible development, delivering a thoughtful, well-designed and attractive scheme which reflects its surroundings.”
Reading Borough council has a policy of 30% of developments being turned over to affordable housing, Abrdn’s planning agents submitted a viability assessment that concludes that the proposed development would be “unable to support a provision of affordable housing.”
Car parking spaces for future occupants would be contained in the basements of the new residential buildings, with up to 200 car spaces and 860 cycle spaces being provided.
Meanwhile, 53 car parking spaces would be reserved for the new commercial floorspace.
The stores that would be lost would be replaced with up to 5,500 sqm of flexible floorspace which could accommodate a foodstore in the western portion of the site.
It is one of the biggest plans that have been applied for in the town, only surpassed by the 1,300 flat development in Station Hill.
Kings Meadow View would be located next to 765-home Huntley Wharf development and Reading Gaol.
Abrdn is also seeking to replace the former John Lewis warehouse in Mill Lane with homes.
Proposals have not been submitted yet.
The application is reference 230822, and can be found on Reading Borough Council’s planning website.
