Plans for 260 homes and a medical centre at Reading Golf Club in Emmer Green have been submitted to the council.

But opponents of the scheme have applied to have the land on either side of the Reading / South Oxfordshire border, made Assets of Community Value (ACV) which would give them first refusal in any sale within a five-year period.

The application is to develop the 30 acres of the site which falls within the Reading Borough Council area and includes the first and 18th holes as well as parts of the second, third, fourth and 17th as well as the clubhouse and car park.

The joint application by Fairfax (Reading) and Reading Golf Club, submitted via Pegasus, includes a 30 per cent allocation of affordable homes.

The remaining 66 acres of the site, which falls within South Oxfordshire, will be given over to public open space.

The scheme, drawn up by architect Paul Hewett, includes 56 one and two-bedroom apartments and maisonettes along with 204 houses (42 with two-bedrooms, 81with three and 81 with four).

The scheme’s design and access statement states: “In recent years, Reading has seen the construction of a large number of flats in and around the town centre, but there has not been a commensurate increase in the number of new, family-sized residences.

“The proposals contained in this submission show that a predominantly housing-led scheme can be delivered, complete with affordable units and a health care facility, without having undue impact on the site’s immediate neighbours or the wider area.”

Emmer Green Residents’ Association (EGRA) and the Keep Emmer Green (KEG) campaign groups are preparing to oppose the plan and EGRA is canvassing its members for views. KEG is inviting locals to join EGRA to take part in it.

In July, KEG applied to both Reading and South Oxfordshire councils to have both parts of the site made ACVs. KEG expects to find out if the bids have been successful by mid-September.

KEG member Ian Morgan told Thames Tap: “Reading Borough council have declared a climate crisis, and yet this development proposes to chop down over one hundred mature trees, build on greenfield land, add 600 cars to already congested roads and significantly deviate from the local plan which has accounted for family housing needs in Reading until 2036.

“The golf club have twice attempted to get the 66 acres – promised as open land in to the South Oxfordshire local plan – for future building. We ask local residents in Caversham and Emmer Green to strenuously object to the proposed over-development.”

Last year Reading Golf Club agreed a merger with Caversham Heath Golf Club and will move to and help redevelop its course at Mapledurham.

The club is due to leave Emmer Green by March 31, 2021.

The club has set up a website for its plans at https://www.rgcfuture.com

KEG has its own website and Facebook pages, respectively at https://www.keepemmergreen.com and https://facebook.com/keepemmergreen

© Thames Tap No 222 (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

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