Published: Thursday, 5th June, 2008 12:00
Station Hill call-in frustrates developers
Comments (1)
Print Article
BEWILDERED developers of the Station Hill site say they cannot understand why Secretary of State Hazel Blears has called in the scheme.
Work on the mixed use high rise scheme for the 3.25 acre site was due to begin next year alongside the rebuilding work at Reading station.
But the timing has now been thrown into confusion while Sackville Developments awaits a Government inspector’s report on whether its scheme can go ahead. That could be as late as next year.
Sackville boss Jon Homan thought the scheme, given planning permission in March, had “ticked all the boxes”.
He said: “The level of support from the two public exhibitions we held, was overwhelming, something like 95% in favour and there was unanimous support at the planning meeting. It was amazing, Reading’s councillors were just so supportive.
“Having got that far we thought we were there. This was a bolt out of the blue.”
He hopes a decision can be reached this year but concedes it could take longer while the inspector seeks the views of concerned parties.
Mr Homan added: “That will be Reading Borough Council, us and I don’t know who else because I just don’t know who is objecting. There were only nine objections, which is extraordinary for a development of this scale. Who else would be concerned,? I am just not sure.”
Around £2m has been spent by Sackville since it bought the site in 2005. Mr Homan said one copy of the paperwork necessary to reach the outline planning stage alone stood one metre high - and councillors required 20 copies.
A detailed application will require a further £3.5m-£4m and now additional costs will be incurred by the delay.
Mr Homan said: “The point which many people don’t understand is that there are costs involved in having concrete which is doing nothing. There is little income coming from the site as it stands and it’s a no go area at night. I wouldn’t go there after dark. It’s a dreadful eyesore.”
Sackville will encourage the remaining Station Hill shops to stay longer to aid security. The developer will also continue talks with Network Rail about links between the schemes including the possible reopening of the walkway under the road and making sure entrances to the two schemes line up.
Sackville will also continue to work on a revised masterplan to include the redevelopment of Friars Walk which it bought after the initial plans were drawn up.
Mr Homan said: “What surprises us is the government have just given Network Rail £650m to modernise the station. But across the street - 25 yards away - they are saying 'hang on a minute’.”
Sackville chairman John Madejski described the Blears’ decision as “a blow to the Thames Valley”.
He said: “The importance of the development of this site in the centre of Reading has been reinforced by the Government’s approval of a £650 million investment in the modernisation and redevelopment of the railway station ,and our plans for Station Hill were designed to complement those improvements and help Reading in its desire to become a city.”
The letter to Reading Borough Council from Secretary of State Hazel Blears’ office said she would make a decision on the application herself “because she considers that the proposals may conflict with national policies on important matters, and could have significant effects beyond their immediate locality”.
Council spokeswoman Sally Moore said: “While we haven’t been given the full reasons for the call - in, we believe it’s based principally on scale and design issues. Nationally the Government does call in many schemes like this, especially when there are many tall buildings - it’s not unusual, and we’re not surprised.”
l Reading Conservatives have been quick to attack the government over the Station Hill call-in.
They want clarification over timescales for the two schemes and have promised to scrutinise their future progress.
Cllr Mike Townend, Tory regeneration spokesman, said “This is a major blow to the town. Sackville consulted all major stakeholders and I understand that the feedback was hugely positive.
“Despite the fact that Reading’s planning committee agreed unanimously with the scheme, this Labour government can’t resist meddling and interfering, even though the will of local people is clear and overwhelming.”
“It will be a sad day for Reading if there are any adverse knock-on problems affecting wider plans incorporating Friars Walk, or even with the Reading station modernisation and redevelopment itself, which the Station Hill scheme was designed to complement.
“I would have thought that the Government would have welcomed this much-needed facelift to a prominent area of Reading town centre by Sackville.
Sackville’s chairman, John Madejski, has done so much for this town and continues to look at ways to support Reading. I imagine that he will be rather disappointed by this news.”
Cllr Andrew Cumpsty, Conservative group leader, said, “It’s unbelievable really. This Labour government has run out of ideas and so all it can do is resort to meddling and dithering, when all we want to do in Reading is get on with implementing decisions that have already been approved.”
Further Details
