A BUNGALOW in Whitley will be demolished so that nine homes can be built on the land.
A developer called Brett Property Developments applied to Reading Borough Council to carry out the project in Newcastle Road.
The plan was opposed by neighbours and Green party councillors. They had fears the new homes would be crammed into the site, and would see the loss of green space.
But at a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s planning committee earlier this month, councillors said the site could be built on.
Cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said: “Let’s not beat around the bush, this is back garden development, but there are times when that is appropriate, and I think that this is one of them”.
She added that back gardens in Newcastle Road have been allowed to go to ‘wrack and ruin’ and called the site where the houses will be built ‘rough land’.
Cllr Gavin said: “Essentially this is a brownfield site. It is a site which has been developed in the past, we are desperate for housing, it is surrounded by housing.
“It is a sound development, the houses are well designed, they fit in with the nature of the area, and I can see absolutely no reason why we should not welcome the addition of some extra housing.”
Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) had called for the decision to be deferred to conduct a site visit, but Labour councillors defeated that suggestion.
“Without that site visit, and with all those concerns, I guess that we’re forced to accept the officer’s recommendation and we’re forced to accept that the Local Plan allows this development,” he said, adding he was disappointed that the planning applications committee would be unable to refuse the application as the site has been allocated for housing development in the Local Plan adopted in 2019.
Other councillors welcomed the development, which will be made up of five four-bed and four two-bed homes.
Cllr Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning on Reading Borough Council, said: “Residents are crying out for houses all the time, they say we build too many flats, so we get a development with houses, and this is a good one.
“It’s a cul-de-sac, there are two allocated off-road parking spaces per house so it’s not going to add to parking congestion in Newcastle Road.
“These are good, family-sized houses. It’s a lovely area for the residents to live.”
The project was approved unanimously by the planning applications committee on Wednesday, January 10, on the condition that Brett Property Developments pay £267,250 to secure affordable homes elsewhere, and a further contribution for enhanced biodiversity at another site.
The approved application can be seen by searching for reference 230974 on Reading Borough Council’s planning website.
