Changes to Hermes’ plans for homes and offices north of Reading station have failed to impress a nearby residents’ group which will continue to oppose the scheme.

The Reading Metropolitan scheme, drawn up by tp bennett, which involves redeveloping the former Royal Mail site in Caversham Road, has been through a revision in which:

  • The number of homes proposed has been reduced from 658 to 620
  • The tallest tower, reduced to 24 floors
  • The previously suggested 97 affordable homes removed entirely
  • The amount of office space is increased from 16,604 sq m to 19,730 sq m.

The changes also involve Building A (the tallest) changing from being office to residential and the adjoining Building C, changing  from residential to office.

But Bell Tower Community Association has published a response on its website, stating: “The Bell Tower Community Association has always had serious concerns about the proposals for this site, and while a small decrease in height of the tallest tower is welcome (although we believe it is still too tall), in our view most of the updated proposals do not represent an improvement.”

Image shows the original plan. Under the revised scheme, the nearest building (Building A) was proposed to be offices and is now going to be residential while the adjoining, proposed residential block, will now be offices.

© Thames Tap No 220 (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

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