Reading Borough Council has launched a consultation to see how neighbours want the town developed

Reading Borough Council is launching a consultation so residents can suggest which sites they most want to see developed and protected in the Local Plan.

Government chiefs have dictated that all current development plans have to be replaced with a Local Plan, which will become the main consideration in deciding on planning applications in the borough.

With added pressures to provide an adequate amount of housing across the borough, the council hopes the plan will help "as much as possible to meet these needs".

The consultation asks residents which sites the council should develop, how much employment development there should be and which other issues should be dealt with.

Councillor Tony Page, Reading's lead member for Strategic Environment and Planning, said: “Reading’s Local Plan will be a key planning document for the town up to 2036. It will determine what development Reading should accommodate over the next 20 years, and how that should be managed, including which areas should be protected. This consultation is the opportunity for residents, businesses and organisations to feed into the process.

“Reading will face some significant pressures over the period of the plan, not least providing an adequate amount and quality of new housing to meet our needs. House prices in Reading are amongst the fastest rising in the country, making house purchase increasingly unaffordable to very large numbers of local people. There is an immense need for new and genuinely affordable housing, both for rent and purchase."

Cllr Page added the consultation, which will run until March 7, is an opportunity to make sure heritage sites like Reading Abbey are enhanced.

“This is a real chance to help shape our town’s future,"he said.

"This is a chance to look at some other crucial issues, such as how our smaller district centres work.

"The local plan will deal with a wide range of matters, and it is therefore important that we start its production with a wide discussion about its contents.

“I will stress again that the proposed development sites out for consultation have in no way been endorsed by the council. They are a starting point for the consultation which will help in deciding how and what development is acceptable, along with open space and amenity areas designated for continued or new protection."

Three workshops to discuss the Local Plan will be held with anyone welcome to attend.

The first will be at Tilehurst Village Hall, Victoria Road, RG31 5AB on Thursday February 4 between 7.30pm and 9:30pm.

The second will be held at Civic Offices, Bridge Street, RG1 2LU [Committee Room 4a/4b] on Wednesday February 24 between 7pm and 9pm.

The final session will be at Church House, 59 Church Street, Caversham, RG31 5AB on Tuesday February 16 between 7pm and 9pm.

There will also be two drop-in events, where officers will be discuss issues more formally.

The first will be at the council's offices on Monday February 15 between 2pm and 7pm and the following day between 1pm and 6pm.

The final drop in session will be at St Paul’s Church Hall, Whitley Wood Lane, RG2 8PN on Friday February 19 between 2pm and 6.30pm.

Visit www.reading.gov.uk/newlocalplan to view the consultation.