A huge plan to build 570 flats on the Napier Court site in Reading could be blocked at a crunch planning meeting.
Peveril Securities wants to demolish the three partly vacant Napier Court offices on Napier Road (Tesco Extra is at the end of the road) and build four blocks, the tallest at 11 storeys. The scheme is being called 'Kings Meadow View' because the homes would sit directly opposite the beauty spot.
The proposal, submitted in July 2024, would deliver 211 one-bed, 305 two-bed and 54 three-bed flats, 29 of which would be accessible. It also includes 33 car parking spaces, 316 cycle spaces and six motorcycle spaces.
A verdict is due at Reading Borough Council's planning committee on 29 April - but the council's principal planning officer, Matt Burns, has recommended refusal.
Key reasons cited are the development's impact on a future East Reading Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) route that would use Napier Road, the lack of any affordable housing and a failure to set out mitigation for Kings Meadow.
The East Reading MRT would have linked Thames Valley Park in Earley with Vastern Road via Napier Road. The scheme ran into trouble in 2018 after disagreements: it was approved by Reading councillors but rejected by Wokingham Borough Council's planning committee, which stopped a crucial road bridge over the Kennet Mouth.
Mr Burns did point to positives, saying the project would help meet housing need with an appropriate mix of flats in a sustainable location - but still recommended refusal.
"The proposed development fails to demonstrate that it can adequately safeguard land required for future MRT, which is a prioritised major transport project.
"Given the critical need for Affordable Housing in Reading, significant harm is identified to the Borough as a result of the proposal's failure to provide any affordable housing.
"Failure to secure necessary off-site public realm and open space enhancements to Kings Meadow means the development would not mitigate the additional strain on social and economic infrastructure and fail to make appropriate provision towards improvement of and access to existing open space based on the needs of the development."
You can view the application by entering reference PL/24/0846/FUL on the council's planning portal.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
