Slough Investor Day meets FTC West of London

Two major events in the property, development and design consultants' calendar will come together for one of the industry’s most important days next month. Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and skills for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, will be keynote speaker for the first Slough Property & Investor Day where property professionals and contractors can speak to those driving the town’s remarkable growth. The event, organised by UK Property Forums (UKPF), is from 9.30am to

Plans approved for 100 homes in Stanford-in-the-Vale

Councillors have approved plans for 100 homes on land in Stanford-in-the-Vale in Faringdon, Oxfordshire. Vale of White Horse District Council (VOWHDC) gave the go-ahead for the application by Mrs A Jones and Mrs N Pullan on Wednesday (November 9). An application submitted last month by Gleeson Developments for 78 homes on land next to the 4.85 hectare agricultural site to the west of Faringdon Road, is still under consultation. Stanford-in-the-vale Parish Council has objected to the proposals

Slough plans £25m extension to property scheme

Councillors will look extend a policy to buy property for income and regeneration in Slough. Slough Borough Council’s cabinet will meet on Monday (November 21) to decide whether to extend its strategic acquisitions strategy by £25 million. The scheme came into force last year and has so far spent £13.6m buying commercial properties in the town which have generated an income of £596,775 during this financial year. Another £9.2m has been set aside for other specific projects – which will also

Grazeley garden settlement bid explained by councils

Councils in Berkshire have explained their reasons for seeking funding for 15,000 homes at Grazeley. Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire have submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) for Government funding for infrastructure to support a potential garden settlement on land around the borders of the three authority areas over the next 20 years. It could mean £250 million for improvements to public transport, roads, including the A33 and M4, as well as schools, health services, green spaces

The gathering storm for businesses with property

Stephen Hill, partner at Vail Williams and member of its business rates team, based at the Thames Valley office, explains what businesses face when their new bills arrive next year. The financial impact of the 2017 rating revaluation will be felt by many businesses located in Reading when the new rate bills land next March. 'Larger' occupiers (properties with 2017 List assessments over a rateable value of £100,000) will see an immediate surge in their rate liabilities, potentially more than

Park & ride gets go ahead despite objections

Plans for a park & ride at Thames Valley Park were given the go-ahead on Monday (November 7). Several objectors turned up to the meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee and three speakers from residents groups and Earley Town Council aired their objections. But the plans, submitted by the council itself, were overwhelmingly voted through. Objectors said the scheme would harm the riverside, and there would be a loss of trees and wildlife and complained of the impact of

Sainsbury's set to make way for 139 apartments

Reading town centre’s oldest supermarket looks set to make way for 139 flats. Sainsbury’s in Friar Street which opened in 1963, is likely to be demolished for redevelopment of the site by owners Aviva Investors. It already owns a Central Studios block of student flats next door to Sainsbury’s and the proposed new block may also be student accommodation. Aviva would not comment to Thames Valley Property but said a planning application is about to be submitted. Aviva has now applied to Reading

Last chance for comments on Rye Common proposal for 1,500 homes

A consultation ends soon on plans to build a new 1,500 home village on land at Rye Common near Odiham, Hampshire. Developer Bell Cornwell has been in discussion with Hart District Council for months over the proposed development which would be on 140 hectares off the A287. A public consultation was held on Tuesday, November 7 and comments can still be submitted until Friday, November 18. The developer wants the scheme considered within the emerging Local Plan. Bell Cornwell – on its website

Bellway and Archstone plan 68 homes at Cholsey

Bellway Homes and Archstone Cholsey has applied to build 68 houses at Wallingford Road, Cholsey. The proposals submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council will include 27 (40 per cent) affordable homes on the 2.65 hectares of former farmland. The mix of one to four bedroom houses has been designed by a team of consultants including DHA Architecture, Pegasus planners, Clarke Bond working on transport and EDP as both landscape architects and arboricultural consultants. Twenty-five will be

Bicester industrial scheme to make way for offices

An industrial site in Bicester is to make way for offices. Five units at the Mckay Trading Estate will make way for 2,120 sq m of offices after Cherwell District Council in Oxfordshire agreed a planning application by Bicester Nominees Ltd and Bicester ll Nominees Ltd. The council agreed the office space would allow more jobs on the same space and will be more energy efficient. It is expected to achive a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating. The site is close to Bicester Village Railway Station