Published: Thursday, 15th October, 2009 1:00pm

Plans for former school site approved

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PERMISSION has been given for a new care home for the elderly and around 100 homes on a disused school site.

Reading Borough Council's planning committee has given outline planning permission for the former Avenue School site in Whitley to be developed, now that the school has moved to Tilehurst.

There were 10 letters objecting to the plans for the land between Basingstoke Road and Northumberland Avenue, citing concerns about traffic and overcrowding and the loss of the Victorian school buildings.

But Lib Dem councillor Kirsten Bayes told the planning meeting on Wednesday last week: "I think the concerns are not strong enough to refuse the application."

Labour's Richard Stainthorp added: "It is becoming increasingly derelict." The committee approved a 40-bed care home and a mixture of 100-109 two, three and four-bedroom flats and houses.

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