A plan for new homes at an unused site in Reading has finally been approved after several attempts by developers to build there.
Parkside Road is a long residential street in Southcote situated near Prospect Park.
Plans had been submitted to build homes on the garden of one of the houses, with access to the new builds being provided from Wingrove Road.
Initially, the developer wanted to build a terrace of three homes on the site, but this was withdrawn after advice was given by a Reading Borough Council planning officer.
Ultimately, the development company Gables Homes settled on two semi-detached homes contained within one new building.
Submitted floor plans show the homes having an identical layout, with each coming with a kitchen, living room and toilet on the ground floor, and two bedrooms with a bathroom on the first floor.
But the project was rejected after an assessment by planning officer Louise Coveney-Fuller, who argued the homes constituted an overdevelopment of the plot, introduced too much hardstanding at the front, and lacked suitably sized private garden space.
Additionally, she ruled that the plan failed to demonstrate that it would result in no net loss of biodiversity, and also failed to determine how much money would be paid to fund affordable housing elsewhere in Reading.
Gables Homes subsequently appealed against the decision to the government’s planning inspectorate, with appointed inspector George Sibley ruling in its favour in August.
Ultimately, he judged that the semi-detached homes would “represent a logical and sympathetic form of residential infill development.”
Mr Sibley ruled that the design would “be appropriate to the character of the area, and would not appear cramped or contrived, and would provide a coherent extension to the established residential pattern surrounding the site.”
On the issue of garden space, he stated: “The size of the proposed
gardens would not appear out of keeping with the character of outdoor spaces
found within the immediate area.”
The success of the appeal was reported to the council’s planning applications committee this month.
Planning officer Mark Worringham’s report states: The decision by the inspector to allow the appeal is disappointing, as officers had considered the scheme carefully, and put forward good justification for refusing the development.
“In allowing the appeal, the inspector considered that the proposal, within a
transitional area between two distinctly different residential character areas, was a suitable arrangement of space, and architectural detailing, which would not harm the appearance of the area, or impact upon residential amenity.
“Notwithstanding the disappointment in the decision, officers are pleased that a policy compliant offsite affordable housing contribution was secured by s106.
“In addition, officers suggested conditions relating to securing landscaping, materials, and construction method statement details were included by the inspector.”
You can view the approved application by typing reference PL/25/1124 into the council’s portal.
