Reading Golf Club’s plans for 257 homes and a medical centre at its former home at Kidmore End Road has been recommended for refusal by council officers.

The fiercely-opposed plans go before Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee on Wednesday, July 21 but officers have recommended the plans are refused and have set out five reasons:

  • The erosion of open space
  • ‘Unacceptable’ layout scale and landscaping
  • Lack of improvements to the Peppard Road/Kiln Road/Caversham Park Road junction
  • A net loss of biodiversity
  • Concerns over its contribution to the housing needs, impacts on social and economic infrastructure and existing open space along with climate and transport issues

The outline application is for the 12.5-hectare section of the course which sits within Reading Borough. The remainder is in South Oxfordshire.

More than 3,000 objections to the scheme have been made.

A spokesperson for the Keep Emmer Green (KEG) campaign which is opposed to the development and which recently produced an alternative plan for an arboretum on the site, said: “KEG is delighted that the council planning case officer has recommended the refusal of this undesirable application for unsustainable development on the beautiful green land of Reading Golf Course which, if ever approved, would have a disastrous effect on the local community.

“In arriving at the decision, it is noted that the many views of over 3,000 objectors have been taken into account, particularly concerning the loss of open space, the increased traffic and inevitable transport problems, the poor layout and scale of the development and the loss of biodiversity.

“It is hoped that the councillors will endorse this recommendation at their meeting on 21 July.  KEG has also recently produced a well thought out and carefully researched alternative proposal for the use of the land and details of this can be found on the website www.keepemmergreen.com.”

Reading Golf Club general manager Gary Stangoe said: ““We are currently working to understand the reasons behind this recommendation for refusal. We remain committed to working with Reading Borough Council on delivering a positive future for this important site, and believe that by working in partnership, issues that remain can be resolved.”

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