Changes forced by former Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove to Reading’s Article 4 Direction have allowed a Permitted Development scheme for 78 flats to come forward.
Reading Borough Council brought in the Article 4 Direction to prevent developers bypassing the planning system by using Permitted Development, often for converting offices to flats.
The council had concerns over PD schemes creating unsuitable residential accommodation, lack of S106 money and air quality issues.
Now a scheme by AEW to convert North Gate House in Valpy Street to 78 flats has been submitted to the council because Valpy Street, which was initially within the Article 4 Direction area as defined by the council, was removed when Mr Gove decided the authority  ‘had not taken a sufficiently targeted approach’ in its plans.
The modified Article 4 direction covers only 21 per cent of the area of the original. That which remains covered by the direction almost exclusively comprises main town centre shopping streets, some parts of local centres and some core employment areas.
If conversion of North Gate House, the now vacant former offices of DEFRA, goes ahead it would provide16 studio flats, 18 one-bedroom, 44 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats.
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