A REVIEW of Reading’s local plan, which details where homes will be built, has been ordered after a study showed more than 800 new homes need to be built every year to hit targets.
The latest iteration of the document was adopted in 2019, and a review was carried out in March. This identified the need for a partial update.
This statutory review considers changes such as developments that have been approved or delivered and national policy updates.
The calculation for the number of new homes required has risen since 2019, and now stands at 833 rather than 699 according to the review, with a cap of 965 per year.
To deliver this, the council is asking for landowners to suggest sites for developments. It is also asking for suggestions for developments of any use, which can include recreational and commercial, and any land that can see a change of use.
An example would be the conversion of the upper floors of Soane Point in Market Place from offices into 144 flats, which was approved on appeal in 2022.
A series of large developments are mentioned within the review document, which includes the fact that 169 out of 769 homes have been completed for the Huntley Wharf development, and the outline plan for 620 homes at the Royal Mail being approved as well.
The review also considers the 223-home plan for Reading Golf Course.
When the Local Plan was adopted, policy CA1b stated it would be suitable for 90-130 homes – a substantially smaller amount than what was consented when the outline application was approved in March 2022.
Some other large applications proposed recently include a plan to build 449 apartments at The Oracle, and a proposal to replace units in Forbury Retail Park with 900 apartments and new retail space.
The Local Plan partial update considers more than just where homes can be built as well. Of the 90 policies contained in the 2019 Local Plan the council has identified 45 that need updating.
To nominate a potential site, log on to: https://www.reading.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/new-local-plan/local-plan-partial-update/
The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Thursday, June 8.
