An embryonic plan for more than a thousand homes on the outskirts of Reading has emerged, which a developer claims will solve the housing shortage in the area.
Planning documents state that 1,200 homes could be built as an eastward expansion of Caversham.
Such a development would see a new local centre, primary school and a park and ride established to serve future occupants.
An indicative masterplan shows the development being delivered in two clusters, with the larger cluster to the south stretching from Henley Road to Caversham Park Village.
The northern cluster of homes would contain an orchard and a country park, and would be connected to Peppard Road and Kiln Road.
Access would be a major consideration for any new housing development, with a park and ride being suggested from Henley Road.
The development would fall in South Oxfordshire District Council’s jurisdiction, as the land suggested is within the hamlet of Playhatch, which is east of Emmer Green and within the parish of Eye and Dunsden.
The embryonic project has been devised by the Gladman strategic land acquisition company.
A Gladman agent wrote: “Growth to the north of Reading, south of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has the potential to play a key role in meeting any unmet housing needs from the town, as well as accommodating future housing needs of South Oxfordshire and the wider western Berkshire housing market area.
“An area of land over 100 ha between the settlements of Play Hatch and Emmer Green, is available, accessible and deliverable.
“It has the potential to provide up to 1,200 new homes, a new Park and Ride facility to serve Reading, other local transport initiatives, a new school and community facilities, new and improved sports facilities, and significant areas of new woodland and habitat to enable the development to sit comfortably within the landscape and respond to the climate and biodiversity emergencies.”
The agent also alluded to a Third Thames Bridge, which would connect the A329 to Henley Road. However, it was acknowledged that a new crossing has faced opposition.
The agent wrote: “[The council] identifies the projects that are identified within the Reading Transport Strategy. It is important to note that many of these projects are aspirational and do not yet have funding streams.
“This includes a potential Thames Crossing. This crossing point does not have the buy-in from all required stakeholders, including neighbouring local authorities.”
South Oxfordshire District Council has repeatedly opposed proposals for a third bridge. However, it is implied that funding from the 1,200 plan could assist with funding for a new crossing.
The information is contained within representations as part of Reading council’s Local Plan partial-update process.
Although the sites are in South Oxfordshire’s jurisdiction, the proposal has been sent to Reading council by Gladman for acknowledgement.
The Gladman agent argued that the development would meet the housing needs of South Oxfordshire and Reading councils if the land were allocated for development.
Reading’s Local Plan partial-update was submitted to the government’s planning inspectorate in May.
South Oxfordshire’s Local Plan was adopted in December 2020, and is subject to an update, which the district council is pursuing with the Vale of White Horse council, that will determine where development can take place in those areas up to 2041.
