A controversial plan for new homes at a site on the edge of a large field in Caversham could be given the go-ahead.
Landowning company Danala Services had applied to build five three-bed homes at the edge of Christchurch Meadows, which used to feature five paper advertising boards.
Danala Services wanted to build the homes within a single terrace at the junction of George Street and Gosbrook Road.
Notably, the development would have been car-free, with future occupants being provided with bike sheds in gardens created by the project.
Chris Keen, a planning agent appointed by the company, argued that the project would be a benefit as it would provide five new family homes for Reading.
However, the plan proved controversial as it would have resulted in the loss of open green space.
The project was therefore rejected by Reading Borough Council’s planning department.
In a report, planning officer Ethne Humphreys pointed out that Danala Services had failed to replace three poplar trees it had cut down.
Although Danala Services had applied to remove a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for the remaining poplar tree, allowing it to be cut down, councillors on the planning applications committee rejected this application in May 2023.
At the time, councillor Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) said: “It’s one tree, but every tree is really important in our climate emergency context that we have.
“When we agree to remove a tree it would really need to be backed up by evidence that it needs to be removed and shouldn’t be preserved.”
needs to be removed and shouldn’t be preserved.”
Doubt was cast on whether the company would ever replace the trees that were cut down.
A decision on the project was initially meant to be made by the planning applications committee as cllr Adele Barnett-Ward (Labour, Thames) ‘called in’ the application.
Yet after negotiations with planning officers, it was agreed that a decision would be delegated to the council’s assistant director of planning, who refused it on October 29, 2024.
Danala Services is hoping to get the decision overturned in an appeal to the government’s planning inspectorate.
The project was also rejected as it is within a flood zone.
Planning agent Mr Keen has pointed out that the site has never flooded, and all of the homes would be built above the floodplain.
He also warned that the land could go unused for years if the project is rejected.
Mr Keen wrote: “As the land is privately owned, there is a responsibility to upkeep it.
“If the land proves difficult to develop for housing, the site will have to be fenced to stop fly-tipping and other unsavoury activities.
“This would deny a home for five families in Reading.”
You can view the refused application, along with appeal documents, by typing reference PL/24/0900 into the council’s planning portal.
The appeal can be found on the government’s planning inspectorate website using reference APP/E0345/ W/25/3364774.
