A new road on the former Battle Hospital site is to be named 'Nightingale' after a former NHS building close to the site.

The development of 211 flats on the former Battle Hospital site on Portman Way will create the new street.

Developer Bellway Ltd suggested the name, which was put forward to Reading Borough Council's (RBC) Planning Applications Committee for a decision, up against five others.

Arlington and Vulcan were put forward from the approved street names list.

The Vulcan was a royal airforce bomber, which was operated from 1956 until 1984, while Arlington is a random selection.

Councillor Sarah-Jane Hacker, lead member for culture, heritage & recreation and Battle ward representative, put forward 'Anderson' and 'Seacole': both women with an important place in medical history.

A member of the public suggested the name 'Walford' during consultation, which will now be added to the approved street names list.

Councillor Page, deputy leader, said: "We have got a list of some very distinguished woman to choose from. I am very happy to go with Nightingale."

Nightingale was a NHS building in Reading, named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

The new development at the former Battle Hospital site includes 50 ‘affordable’ homes, and was approved by the planning committee on Wednesday, September 5.

The creation of street names follows guidelines from the 'Data Entry Conventions and Best Practice for the National Land Property Gazetteer'.

The approved street names list includes 'random' monikers such as 'Hope', 'Rowland' and 'Zenith', as well as reasoned suggestions including 'Watkins', 'Kennedy' and 'Matrix'.

The list can be found here at appendix two: http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/9671/Item-8/pdf/Item08.pdf