A project to create a new care site and affordable homes at an estate in Reading has been adjusted.
The Willows care home in Hexham Road, Whitley, was built by Reading Borough Council in the 1970s to look after people with dementia.
It was also used to provide temporary care for people with injuries to recover and rehabilitate.
Councillors decided to close it in 2019, relocating people to Charles Clore Court in Southcote, allowing the Hexham Road site to be redeveloped.
Council planners then devised a plan to replace it with 42 flats, including specialist housing, and a day centre to serve adults with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities.
The facility and flats will all be contained in one four-storey building.
The project was originally approved by councillors in November 2023, but “necessary” design adjustments were made since that decision.
These involve changing the brick used and its design to make them less susceptible to climbing, therefore preventing anti-social behaviour.
The bricks chosen will also be less at risk of staining and dirt buildup.
Furthermore, the walkways on the first, second and third floors of the proposed building have been changed from brick to exposed reinforced concrete.
Additionally, changes to cycle storage facilities provide a total of 32 cycle spaces for residents and care centre staff.
Designs and the requirements for the project were undertaken in a collaboration between the council’s housing and adult social care departments.
The changes have now been approved by the council’s planning applications committee.
Matt Yeo (Labour, Caversham), lead councillor for housing, made a quip about his knowledge of many of the sites undergoing development, including the former Willows Care Home.
He said: “With half of these applications, I’ve either lived or worked near, and in this case, my mum lived opposite.”
Cllr Yeo added: “I think this is still a great development.
“I think it helps the council meet the needs in demands in the adult social care and housing area.
“It certainly helps us in those areas. I support the changes, and I’m looking forward to seeing it get on with development.”
Cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) added: “I know we were all very excited when this first came round, and it’s a great use of the piece of land, and much much needed.”
The adjustments were unanimously approved at the council meeting on Wednesday, April 30.
You can view the project by typing reference PL/24/1589 into the council’s planning portal.
