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NEWS & VIEWS

Broad Street Mall urban market plan deferred

Broad Street Mall’s plans for an urban market, made up of 16 shipping containers, has been deferred by councillors, who want more information. Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee agreed the deferral  at their September 6 meeting. Lead councillor for strategic environment, planning & transport, Cllr Tony Page said the principle of using the area for an urban market is one that attracts him. But he added: “Given the concerns that have been expressed by our licensing

'Scale up space' is being lost to PDR

A shortage of office space is emerging in the Thames Valley for small firms to move into once they start to expand. James Finnis, head of south east office agency for JLL, believes start ups who are ready to move on from serviced offices, face a lack of available stock because so much has been lost to office conversions to residential under Permitted Development Rights (PDR). He believes there have been a number of positive effects of PDR but detects a risk area after so many schemes have been

Thames Quarter is finally approved

Lochailort’s plan for 315 flats at Thames Quarter has finally been approved after the developer increased the number of affordable units it will provide. Plans for the 23-storey building on the site of the former Cooper BMW showroom in King’s Meadow Road close to Reading station, were deferred at the council’s July meeting of the planning applications committee because the allocation of affordable homes was too low at 12 per cent (25 units). The developer then considered the reverting to an

AA scraps plans to move to the Florence Building at Basing View

The AA has ditched an agreement to move from Fanum House in Basing View to the new Florence Building nearby. Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council had announced a deal with the breakdown giant in April that would keep more than 700 jobs in the borough. The council had agreed to compensate the AA while, for its part, the recovery giant had agreed to move its head office from outdated Fanum House and take a pre-let at the 60,535 sq ft Florence Building which is due for completion in 2018. But now

Plans for 1,000 more flats in central Reading

Developer Hermes is working on plans for almost 1,000 flats in Reading’s Caversham Road. The developer has submitted a screening opinion request to Reading Borough Council to ask if an environmental statement is needed for plans to build 981 apartments on the site of the former Royal Mail depot on the north site of Reading station. Hermes’ radical plans have been revealed in its formal request which proposes three phases of development and includes retail and offices. Under the plans there

Senior lawyers join Field Seymour Parkes

Senior property lawyers, Gaye King and Anna Zatouroff, have joined Field Seymour Parkes, giving the practice the largest team of its kind in the town. Gaye King, who qualified in 2001, joins as an associate from international firm CMS. She has broad experience of commercial property particularly in advising investors, funds and corporate occupiers on the acquisition, management and disposal of portfolios. Sectors include retail and industrial parks, offices and shopping centres. Anna Zatouroff

Gladman declines to comment over 245 homes refusal

Gladman Developments has refused to say whether the company will go to appeal after its controversial plan for 245 homes at Emmer Green was rejected by councillors. The plan, which had been recommended for approval, was thrown out by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) on Thursday, September 6 because  it was ‘contrary to the council’s spatial strategy and harmful to the character and appearance of the local lansdscape’. Thames Valley Property contacted Gladman on Thursday, September 7

The Lexicon Bracknell unveiled

​A monumental day for Bracknell was celebrated as The Lexicon shopping opened its doors on Thursday, September 7. Thousands of people queued for store openings, special offers and giveaways on the first day they were able to enjoy £240 million scheme. Development manager for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, Simon Russian, said the biggest challenge had been keeping the town centre open while work took place. But he added: “It’s great, not so much for us, although it has been a fairly

South Oxfordshire to put draft local plan to Government this year

The timetable for South Oxfordshire’s draft local plan has been set out - with submission to Government due before the end of the year. Large sites at Culham, Chalgrove and the Brookes University Wheatley campus are expected to take up much of the requirement for 9,671 homes which are still needed to meet the target of 22,500 in the 22-year period to 2033. Most of the remainder of that requirement is either built or in the pipeline. The Culham site will require land in the Green Belt and may

Councillors set for second refusal of Redrow's plans for 200 homes

A planning application for up to 200 homes at Abingdon which has already been refused, comes back before councillors on Wednesday, September 13 – but it’s already destined for appeal. The application by Redrow Homes South Midlands for the homes on land off Hobbyhorse Lane, Sutton Courtenay was considered by Vale of White Horse District Council's planning committee on March 1. After refusal on the basis of inadequate drainage, access, highways issues, odour and health risks, the council invoked