New Homes Approved After Controversial Planning Appeal

A plan for homes on an unused site in Reading has finally been approved after several attempts. The site is on Parkside Road in Southcote, near Prospect Park.

Gables Homes wanted to build on the garden of an existing house, with access from Wingrove Road. An initial plan for a terrace of three was withdrawn after council advice; the company then proposed a single building containing two semi-detached homes.

Floor plans show identical layouts: a kitchen, living room and toilet on the ground floor, and two bedrooms with a bathroom upstairs.

Planning officer Louise Coveney-Fuller refused the scheme, saying it was an overdevelopment, introduced too much hardstanding at the front and lacked adequate private garden space. She also said the plan did not prove there would be no net loss of biodiversity and failed to show how much would be paid toward affordable housing elsewhere in Reading.

Gables Homes appealed and inspector George Sibley allowed the appeal in August. He judged the semis would "represent a logical and sympathetic form of residential infill development." He added they 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 gardens he said: "The size of the proposed gardens would not appear out of keeping with the character of outdoor spaces found within the immediate area."

The appeal success was reported to the council's planning applications committee this month. Planning officer Mark Worringham's report says: 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.

He added: "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.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter