Projects that could have changed the townscape in Reading and seen nearly 800 homes built in the town centre alone have failed to get off the ground.
Making planning decisions is one of the most important duties of Reading Borough Council.
But while a developer may secure planning permission for their project, that is only half the battle.
Complex developments require further, more detailed planning, and the developer needs to have enough cash to deliver the project.
Below are four examples of projects that have failed to get off the ground, due to economic viability, business strategy shifts and other reasons.
You can view each application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Reading Metropolitan (PL/18/2252)
The latest example of a failed development is the ambitious Reading Metropolitan project.
It would have replaced the defunct Royal Mail depot in Caversham Road with 620 homes, along with new offices, retail and community space.
Outline plans were approved by councillors in a meeting in March 2022, and later received full consent through a legal agreement with the council that was signed in March 2023.
However, detailed plans outlining the specifics of the project never materialised, and the permission for the development has recently lapsed.
This means that the Royal Mail site remains vacant.
John Lewis plan for 170 apartments (PL/24/1155)
Another defunct building that will remain standing is the John Lewis customer collections centre opposite The Oracle in Crossland Road.
While John Lewis won permission to replace it with 170 apartments last October, the company announced that it is pulling out of the housebuilding business in February.
The planning permission remains valid, and it is understood that John Lewis is seeking a buyer for the site that could either deliver the project or submit a fresh application.
The site is allocated for 76-110 homes under policy CR14r of the Reading Local Plan.
Plan for 80 flats at Tesco car park (PL/23/1041)
The second most recent plan to fail was a proposal to build an apartment block containing 80 flats at Tesco Extra car park in Portman Road.
The project was submitted by Ridgepoint Homes in 2023.
The new building would have been four-storeys tall and contained 74 two-bed and six one-bed flats.
However, no new documents for the project have been submitted since December 2023. Ridgepoint Homes officially withdrew the planning application on March 18.
Meadway Precinct redevelopment (PL/19/1496)
Further out of town, plans emerged for a redevelopment of The Meadway Precinct in Tilehurst back in 2019.
The project, submitted by Chillingham Ltd, would have seen the creation of 258 new homes, new retail space and the refurbishment and extension of existing shops.
The plan was debated by councillors, who approved it in October 2021.
However, like the Reading Metropolitan development, nothing happened after that point, with the planning permission finally being disposed of in December 2024.
