CONCERNS have been raised over potential air quality at a planned development in Reading town centre.
At a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s policy committee meeting held on Monday, July 11, councillors questioned some aspects of the Minster Quarter scheme which would see The Hexagon and its surrounding areas receive a makeover.
The area is currently a paved plaza that includes San Francisco Libre Walk, the Lavender Place Community Gardens and Blue Collar Corner, all behind Broad St. Mall.
The council is seeking developers to transform it into a new public and residential area, with a total of 618 apartments and a 90 bed hotel.
The scheme would also find alternative space for the
Lavender Gardens and Food4Families schemes to relocate.
Green party councillr David McElroy (Redlands) said future residents and guests could be badly impacted by the IDR.
Cllr McElroy said: “In principle, something needs to be done with this space.
“It’s such a big open space, our imagination really is the limit, something being exercised by those making use of the Lavender Garden currently.
“But it seems like we’re mostly getting a shed load of flats and a hotel block, the occupants of which will likely have their lungs and eyeballs destroyed by the IDR.”
he continued: “It is a huge opportunity but it also seems like a wasted opportunity to complement the cultural possibilities by creating a peaceful new greener space in the centre of town, but green space doesn’t even get a mention in the entire report, let alone in the Key Development Principles.
“So I guess in the pursuit of more cold, drafty concrete I just find the council’s lack of aspiration for the sort of ‘city’ Reading could be to be a bit depressing.”
Council leader Cllr Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote) felt the comments “a stretch too far”.
Reading as a whole has pollution of nitrogen oxides and dioxides and particulate matters (called PM10 and PM2.5) which exceed World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
The pollutants can cause asthma and other life shortening illnesses.
Data from the Central Office of Public Interest shows 97% of the UK exceeded at least one of the WHO targets.
The opposition leader, Cllr Rob White (Green, Park), has called for more of the proposed apartments to be classed as affordable.
The council’s policy is for 30% affordable housing on a development.
After the meeting, Cllr White said: “Greens remain concerned about Reading’s housing crisis.
“Because the council owns the site it has the opportunity to deliver more affordable housing here.
“Previously the council had the policy that 50% of housing should be affordable and at Arthur Hill, another Reading Council owned site, 100% of the housing being built will be affordable.
“The current lacklustre proposal is a missed opportunity to do more to tackle the lack of affordable housing in Reading.”
Cllr Brock said the 30% target was appropriate, policy compliant and viable for potential developers to deliver.
The project was approved by 13 votes, with Cllrs White and McElroy voting against it.
