A part of Reading that was once described as ‘scruffy and awful’ and was plagued with rats is set to undergo a transformation – as plans to build new flats have been approved.
The site in Silver Street, previously home to Sapphire, a commercial balustrades and handrails business, has been sealed off for more than a decade and has laid dormant ever since.
Sapphire was previously described as being ‘scruffy and awful’ by councillor Jo Lovelock (Labour, Norcot) in 2018.
The single-storey building was demolished in 2019, with the larger vacant building next to it being flattened the following year.
The area nearby has become troubled, with allegations of illegal building work supposedly leading to a rat infestation at the nearby Hawk Cottages, with neighbour Patricia Tynan claiming to have killed more than 100 rats which had become attracted to the area.
But little has happened on the site, as developers’ repeated attempts to build on the site were rejected as councillors deemed them to be inappropriate.
A plan for 62 student flats was rejected and dismissed on appeal to the planning inspectorate in 2018, and a bigger project for 79 student flats was rejected in 2019 and dismissed on appeal in 2021.
Now a developer is finally set to build 23 flats following a decision by councillors on Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee.
At a meeting, Cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said: “When I think back, we were looking at 60-80 student studio flats at one time being crammed onto this site, so 23 homes represents a really good use of this site as far as I can see.
“Although it’s limited, I’m delighted to see some open amenity space provided for residents, so I think it will be a huge improvement of the site which is now derelict.”
The new building will provide four three-bed, 11 two-bed and eight one-bed flats.
Of those, four two-bed and three two-bed flats will be provided at affordable private rent levels, which is 80%of the market rate.
A condition will dictate that the council’s housing team will have a ‘Nominations Agreement’ with the developer to find tenants, a measure which was celebrated by Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning and assets.
However, Cllr Simon Robinson (Conservatives, Emmer Green) expressed ‘major concern’ over the lack of parking.
The development will provide 11 car parking spaces, of which one would be disabled, and another would be reserved for electric vehicle charging.
Cllr Robinson said: “I believe that is wholly inadequate.
“That area already suffers with issues for free parking for residents, so is this adequate for what we are hoping for? In my opinion it’s not, so sadly, I’ll be voting against.”
Disagreeing, Cllr Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) said: “The development is within walking distance of the town centre, within walking distance of incredibly good communications and transport links.
“We are trying to encourage people to use alternative forms of transport, particularly when they are close to public transport networks.”
Only Cllr Robinson voted against the project, in what would be his last meeting as an elected councillor.
You can view the approved project by typing application reference 201766 into the council’s planning portal.
