'Development plans too focused on showpiece sites'

Adam Hewitt • Published 24 Jan 2008 15:50 0 Comments

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COUNCIL chiefs have been warned that Reading's development strategy is reliant on showpiece areas like Green Park keeping it in the Government's good books.

That is one of the conclusions of Sue Turner, the independent inspector appointed by Environment Secretary Ruth Kelly to examine the borough council's Core Strategy - the document that will guide local planning decisions for the next 20 years.

She backed plans to focus new building in south west Reading, following the Manor Farm project at Kennet Island and the GreenPark business village, soon to get its own housing development and the first privately-built train station in southern England since the war.

Some areas dominated by businesses will be converted to housing developments, with shops, services and public transport.

But Ms Turner is worried about economic strategy in the borough, and warns that the Environment Agency seems more worried than the council about the threat of flooding - particularly involving major schemes like the 7,500 home Kennet Valley development.

She describes council housing targets as "ambitious" and dependent on "windfall sites" like GreenPark and demands changes in these areas but says the document is broadly "sound".

Borough planning leader Cllr Tom Crisp said: "The Core Strategy provides new strengthened policies that will ensure new developments are properly designed, that they protect valuable parts of the environment of the borough and contribute appropriately to the development of infrastructure, services and facilities in the borough, including transport and open space."

But Professor Paul Bardos, an environmental planning expert at the universities of Reading and Nottingham, said: "The council has had to agree to substantial changes in text on highways and transportation because of the uncertainties surrounding their local transport plan - for example, the one-way IDR that even the Labour group appear to have dropped."

He believes the IDR scheme could still be reinstated, and that the council should campaign for a nature reserve alongside the Kennet Valley development.

The inspector backed the council's construction policies, including regulations on energy efficiency and water conservation. A key environmental target for the borough is ensuring that new developments reduce their predicted carbon emissions by at least 20% by using on-site energy generation and efficient design. Most councils making similar demands have sought only a 10% cut.

The ruling Labour group want to ensure all new housing is carbon-neutral and old buildings are fitted with low-carbon technologies.

Borough environment leader Cllr Steve Waite said: "I am determined that Reading Borough Council will lead by example."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 24 Jan 08

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