A strategy that determines where thousands of new homes will be built in Reading is due to be submitted in the coming weeks.
The Local Plan, adopted in 2019, lays out where new homes can be built and the rules developers should comply with.
Reading Borough Council has been undertaking a ‘partial update’ of the Local Plan since 2023.
A major part of the Local Plan determines where new homes can be built, with sites being suggested as suitable for development by landowners.
Development sites contained in the partial update include 644 flats being added to Broad Street Mall, 436 flats to be added to The Oracle, and the transformation of the existing Central Library to provide around 46 homes.
Landowners also want to transform parts of the Forbury Retail Park and the Reading Link Retail Park into sites for new homes as well.
The partial update will be submitted to a government-appointed planning inspector for assessment this April.
The news was revealed at a recent council meeting, after councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) asked for an update on the submission process.
The question was answered by Micky Leng, lead councillor for planning and assets.
Cllr Leng (Labour, Whitley) said: “The council have consulted on the Pre-Submission Draft of the Partial Update.
“This is the version the council propose to submit to the secretary of state for independent examination.
“It includes draft policy wording and site allocations, as well as detailed proposals regarding the level of development that will be delivered within the Borough up to 2041.
“The public consultation period closed on December 18, 2024 and officers received 115 responses to the proposed review.
“Work has progressed on considering the responses and drafting the revised version.
“The intention was for this to be completed by the end of February, but submission to the Secretary of State will now be in April.
“This highlights the efforts our planning officers are giving this final draft, following due diligence and full consideration to the consultation.
“Once the Local Plan is submitted, the secretary will appoint an inspector to carry out an independent examination of the plan.
“At the end of the examination the inspector will report to the authority recommending if the plan can be adopted or whether changes are
required.
“It should be noted that although there is a five-year period for carrying out a review of a plan after it is adopted, policies do not automatically become ‘out of date’ when they are five years old.
“It is a matter of planning judgement rather than legal fact whether a plan or policies within it are out of date.”
The answer was given at a strategic environment, planning and transport meeting on March 12.
