Planning Approved for Sheltered Housing and Day Opportunities Centre
- 42 new one-bedroom homes to be built for people aged over 55 years
- Day Opportunities Centre for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities
PLANNING permission has been granted by Reading Borough Council to build new homes and a day opportunities centre for residents with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
The complex will be built at the corner of Hexham Road and Northumberland Avenue and will include apartments in four, three and two-storey blocks, with the day opportunities centre on ground level with access to a courtyard. The 42 homes are for people over the age of 55 years and include 36 sheltered accommodation homes where, if required, support can be provided. All homes will be let at affordable rent.
At the Planning Applications Committee on Wednesday (1 Nov), councillors unanimously approved the plan for homes, day centre, courtyard, associated landscaping and car parking on the former location of The Willows, a 26-bed residential care home which was closed in 2020. The site was cleared last year.
The new complex is part of the Council’s commitment to create homes and services for vulnerable residents across the town and is in addition to creative solutions such as the modular pod accommodation for people found sleeping rough.
Plans are also progressing to deliver additional new homes for residents in need on two other sites, at Amethyst Lane and Dwyer Road, in Southcote.
Ellie Emberson, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Housing, said: “The development of this site will provide much needed high quality affordable sheltered housing. It demonstrates our continued strong commitment to make the best use of our land to deliver new housing opportunities for residents in our town.”
Paul Gittings, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said: “This forms part of a significant investment in our Adult Social Care services and exemplifies the Council’s commitment to providing the right care, in the right place at the right time, and assisting people with support when they need it while living as independently as possible.”
There are more than 600 residents aged 18 years and older in Reading who have profound and multiple learning disabilities.
The development forms part of the Council’s investment of over £110m to provide 400 affordable new homes between 2021 and 2025. The strategy will not only reduce the waiting list but also provide the right type of housing to reflect the needs of residents.
As part of the commitment the Council has approved plans to create a further 62 new homes on the former Central Pool site in Battle Street, which will cater for those on the housing register as well as sheltered housing and homes for vulnerable adults, and the Arthur Hill Pool development will see key workers from Reading move into 15 new flats on King’s Road.
More information about the planning application can be found here.