• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Sunday, July 27, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Changes made to Reading council tenancies for first time in nearly 10 years

    Restaurant closed for 7 years to be turned into bar and eatery

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Derry raises awareness of Reading’s good people

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Derry raises awareness of Reading’s good people

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Kingdom Rooms

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Kingdom Rooms

    FROM THE LEADER: New Studio Theatre at the Hexagon

    PCC allocates nearly £2M in Home Office funding to counter serious violence in Thames Valley

    The Barberettes Shine at International Choir Competition in Europe

    Reading Rep announces team behind next production, The Last Five Years

    Reading Biscuit Factory set to celebrate fourth birthday

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC star Knibbs set to make Championship move as fee is agreed

    Reading FC confirm new signing as midfielder joins on permanent deal

    Former Reading FC loanee joins rivals

    Reading FC sign German attacker on permanent deal

    Reading and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon set for Q&A at Purple Turtle

    Ex-Reading star Ejaria on trial with former Royals manager

    League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    Reading FC opinion: Where are the goals coming from this season?

    Reading FC midfielder Knibbs linked with Championship move

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Area Reading

Lack of capacity in electricity grid will see fewer homes use greener heating methods

James Aldridge, local democracy reporter by James Aldridge, local democracy reporter
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 7:07 am
in Reading
A A
The North Street affordable homes development by Reading Borough Council, where homes provided were reduced from 41 to 37. Picture: Reading Borough Council

The North Street affordable homes development by Reading Borough Council, where homes provided were reduced from 41 to 37. Picture: Reading Borough Council

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A LACK of capacity in Reading’s electricity grid means a new housing development will see fewer homes using greener heating methods.

Reading Borough Council has begun discussions with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to work on a strategy to increase capacity, and at a recent meeting councillors discussed the problems this is causing.

Council leader Cllr Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote) said: “It’s something that’s been on the radar for a little while. It’s something that has caused us to bother with some of our own council developments, and there is clearly a systematic problem.”

The council had to reduce the number of homes at its North Street development from 41 to 37 to allow air-source heat pumps and solar panels to be added. It still aims to heat all 21 homes and a respite care facility for its development at Amethyst Lane using air-source heat pumps.

Cllr Brock said: “It does concern us that it might frustrate some of our ambitions as we progress towards net zero, particularly getting lower carbon forms of heating installed in some of the developments that are coming forward.”

One housing project that was singled out was the Emmer Green Drive development at the old Reading Golf Course site, where Vistry Group is building 223 homes.

Related posts

Changes made to Reading council tenancies for first time in nearly 10 years

Restaurant closed for 7 years to be turned into bar and eatery

A huge crowd at Englefield House for the The Beach Boys’ only UK show of the year

PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Derry raises awareness of Reading’s good people

An outline plan approved in March last year stipulated those homes be fitted with air-source heat pumps – but it will be 81 homes, as SSEN stated that it would be unable to provide the electricity required to power the pumps.

The reduction of the air-source heat pumps was approved along with other details in March this year.

Cllr Rob White (Green, Park) is the leader of the opposition on the council.

He said: “Unfortunately, all Labour councillors voted to go ahead with the scheme, despite 142 houses not being connected to air source heat pumps, therefore having to have gas boilers installed.

“It was only Labour councillors paralysed into inaction, not Greens, we voted against it.”

Cllr Brock responded: “This NIMBYish approach that you simply go for time and time again lets residents down and you know it, and you do it simply because you chase that NIMBY boat wherever possible.”

Cllr Clarence Mitchell, the leader of the Conservative group and ward member for Emmer Green, said: “Unlike both sides, we’re not seeking to politicise this any further – the decision has been taken regarding that particular development. It is frustrating not just to the developers but to the community, many of whom obviously opposed this development in the first place.

“We are endeavouring as ward councillors to build a constructive working relationship with both developers and the opposing groups. We would urge both council officers involved and SSEN to do all in their power, no pun intended, to make sure that this particular problem is overcome so that the development is at least as successful as it can be now that the decision has been taken.”

The debate about electricity capacity took place at the council’s policy committee meeting held on Monday, September 25, and came as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walked back on some of the government’s own measures to reduce carbon emissions announced in September, include scrapping a government ban on the sale of gas boilers.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Driver pays 40p more to park by using RingGo app compared to cash at the meter

Next Post

Laithwaites team raises thousands for Sue Ryder Hospice with 120km feat

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Former Reading FC striker Andy Carroll joins new club in England after leaving France

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 47-year-old woman arrested after two pedestrians die in road traffic collision in Caversham

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Masked men armed with weapons rob store in Reading

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC forward given ultimatum over future at the club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.