The redevelopment of an industrial estate that is home to a brewery in Reading has been rejected as the site could be repurposed for housing in the future.
The planned redevelopment of Meadow Road industrial estate in Reading has been refused after councillors concluded the site could be better used for housing.
The estate, near the town centre, houses three commercial buildings occupied by Rocco Brands Group, Green Metro Coaches, Phantom Brewing and 7Bone Burger. Site owner CBRE Investment Management had asked to demolish the warehouses and replace them with four new industrial buildings, divided into 11 commercial units.
Opponents argued the move would harm neighbours and block a potential housing site. The land is allocated for 39 to 60 homes under policy WR3b of the Reading Local Plan.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward (Labour, Thames) said: “It would be eminently suitable for much-needed single-family homes.
“This area is perfect for that type of residential development.
“The residential streets to the site are a lovely community. They’ve got playgrounds, they’ve got a primary school.
“We shouldn’t be sacrificing those potential homes, we should stick to the local plan for the site.”
Recent local change points the same way: Bellway Homes built The Printworks at the former Cox & Wyman printing factory, creating 96 one- to three-bedroom homes beside the older terraces around the Bell Tower area.
Planning officer Catrin Davies judged the harms would outweigh the business and employment benefits and recommended refusal. Cllr Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) added: “The fact that this would encroach on somewhere we would allocate for housing is a big concern.”
Councillors rejected the application at the planning committee on 3 December. That decision came before Phantom Brew’s 22 December announcement that it would be undertaking an “extended shutdown”. During the meeting, cllr Barnett-Ward called Phantom “a really popular business” and “a local gem”.
You can view the refused application by typing reference PL/25/1191 into the council’s planning portal.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
