Plans for 643 Build-to-Rent homes at Reading’s Broad Street Mall go back in front of councillors on Wednesday (April 30) with a recommendation for approval.
Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee deferred the plans by McLaren Living to demolish parts of the south of the AEW-owned mall and part of its car park to build four towers of one, two and three-bedroom flats at its April 2 meeting.
Councillors were unhappy with the affordable homes proportion and the lack of play areas and public realm.
However, officers have negotiated with the applicant to get 15 further affordable homes, taking the proportion from 10.1 per cent to 12.44, and agree to focus some of the £6.3 million in CIL contributions the scheme will generate, to public realm in Queens Walk and Dusseldorf Way, rather than further away areas of the town centre.
A report to Wednesday’s meeting states there are unique challenges for both the buildings proposed and future public realm, since the current surface around that area is a podium level with a significant void underneath. Officers state its structural condition is relatively unknown.
The report also explains amendments to the proposed disabled parking arrangements, over which councillors had previously raised concerns.
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