Final Chance to Have Your Say on Reading’s Local Plan

THE final round of public consultation on a refreshed planning blueprint for Reading up to 2041 is now open.

Reading’s Local Plan is a crucial Council planning document which will help inform decisions on planning applications over the next 17 years. It outlines Council policies on key issues like future housing need, affordable homes, associated infrastructure, and how sustainable developments will help Reading drive towards its net zero carbon ambitions. Reading Council is updating the Local Plan to make sure it is fit for purpose for the future.

Following a previous phase of public consultation last year, residents, businesses and local organisations now have a final opportunity to input into the Local Plan before a final draft goes on to the Secretary of State for approval next year. A public examination led by an independent inspector will also follow during 2025.

People can have their say online at www.reading.gov.uk/localplanupdate.

The Council is additionally hosting two drop-in sessions where planners will be on hand to answer any questions. These will take place at the Civic Offices on Tuesday 26 November, between 13:00 and 18:00, and Wednesday 11 December between 14:30 and 19:30. The deadline for comments is December 18.

Adopted five years ago in 2019, Reading’s Local Plan has been updated through consultation to consider changes in national planning legislation and the need for more homes to tackle a national housing shortage, which is exacerbated by the high cost-of-living.

Every council needs to review its Local Plan by law within five years of adoption and, as a result of this review, the Council has decided to undertake what is known as a ‘partial update’.

Locally in Reading, there is a specific focus on more affordable homes, more family-sized homes and more energy efficient housing. In relation to the level of housing need in Reading borough, the adopted Local Plan provides for 825 new homes a year.

The refreshed Local Plan additionally seeks to ask developers to help address the acute shortage of family-sized homes in Reading. Outside of central Reading, the Council is proposing to increase the target for the amount of family housing needed to 67%, up from 50% in the current version, while acknowledging that developments in central Reading are likely to be mainly made up of one- and two-bedroom homes, but should still seek to deliver an increase in family homes.

The consultation document also includes additional sites for development for a variety of uses, but particularly for housing.

Councillor Micky Leng, Reading Borough Council’s Lead for Planning, said:

“This is the final opportunity for people to feedback on what is a key document for our town which will have a material impact on how it looks and develops up to 2041.

“Changes have been made from the previous version, including a substantial increase in the creation of family-sized homes by developers outside of Central Reading. It also continues to demand high standards from developers in terms of creating genuinely sustainable and energy efficient homes, which also help to drive down costs for struggling households.

“Aside from steering the type of development the town needs, it is also important to say that the Local Plan plays a key role in the protection of land and changes in national law and policy which mean that greater protection must also be afforded to biodiversity, wildlife and existing habitats.

“I’d urge residents, businesses and organisations across Reading to take some time over the coming weeks to take a look at our intended direction of travel and feed into our town’s Local Plan.”