Flat numbers increase at shopping centre development

A plan for more than 640 flats in four tower blocks built as part of a town's shopping centre has been approved.

The blocks will be built at Broad Street Mall in Reading but five shop units and nearly 300 parking spaces will be lost to make way for them.

Reading councillors had been asked to approve the application on 2 April but it was deferred to allow further discussion about affordable housing included in them.

Applicants McLaren and UREF III LP agreed to increase it from an initial 10% to 12.5%, which will equate to 80 homes of the 643 flats. Council officers advised that was acceptable.

Oliver Westray, development director of McLaren, said the scheme would "regenerate Broad Street Mall" and "deliver an enhanced and reinvigorated mixed-use neighbourhood".

"The approved scheme will allow McLaren Living and AEW to create a renewed and vibrant retail and residential destination, one that will be resilient and sustainable and support the local economy," he added.

Charles Royle, from AEW, said the plans approval was a "significant milestone" which would "create much needed new homes and green spaces for the community in Reading".

He added: "Our ambition, along with our partners McLaren Living, is to transform this area into a vibrant, new destination for the town, and the receipt of planning brings us one step closer to achieving that goal."

Last year, a spokesperson for McLaren said the project would "transform" the area by bringing "new life and vibrancy".

Previous plans for 400 flats and a hotel on the site were approved in 2019 and 2021.

Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee approved the latest plan on Wednesday.

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