John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has won approval for its plans for 170 Build-to-Rent (BtR) homes on the site of its former distribution centre in Mill Lane, Reading.
Councillors on Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee voted unanimously to approve the scheme at the October 9 meeting – and praised the partnership for its 70-year commitment to Reading.
It follows several years of work by Savills Central Planning in partnership with JLP to develop the energy-efficient BTR scheme.
A total 16 per cent of the 170 homes will be affordable, with no difference in design, specification or service compared with market-rate homes. Local residents will be given first refusal on the mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Each one will be powered using an air source heat pump.
Delivered in partnership with joint venture partner, Aberdeen, the £70 million scheme will regenerate an underused brownfield site to deliver the homes along with nearly 5,000 sq ft, indoor amenity space for fitness, homeworking and socialising and landscaped communal gardens.
A new community space and access to gardens for local groups will also be provided. The scheme will deliver a biodiversity net gain of 328 per cent.
It is the third major milestone in JLP’s growing residential portfolio, following landmark approvals in West Ealing and Bromley, both of which Savills was also involved in securing.
Katherine Russell, director of Build-To-Rent for JLP, said: “This planning consent marks an important moment in our 70-year commitment to Reading and has been achieved through close collaboration with the local authority. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to invest further in the community by helping to deliver much-needed new homes.”
Anne Breen, global head of real estate for Aberdeen, said: “John Lewis brings something quite different to build-to-rent – centrally located, money-can’t-buy sites and a brand people know and trust, and a stand-out commitment to service that is already evident across the homes they manage.”
Jon Sebbage, associate director in Savills Central Planning, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in securing this unanimous approval for JLP following extensive positive engagement with the local planning authority and close collaboration as part of the project team over a number of years.
“The consented scheme will provide much-needed sustainable homes, community space and garden areas, and deliver significant public benefits for local people in central Reading.”
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