Plans to build 26 flats on derelict land in west Reading labelled a ‘local eyesore’ by the developers will be voted on next week.

Stonegate Homes want to build the flats as well as two ground floor commercial units at land behind the Curzon Club on 362 Oxford Road and near to the Tesco Extra.

Residents have raised concern about the impact on parking, natural light and privacy, while the loss of a sycamore tree has been objected to by the Natural Environment team.

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But planning officers have given their support to the application, saying the positives, such as the development of vacant and under-utilised brownfield land and eight affordable flats, far outweigh the negatives.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee will vote on the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, January 13.

The homes would be divided into five one-bed flats, 13 two-bed flats and eight three-bed flats, with eight at affordable housing rates.

The derelict land was part of the old Battle Hospital site and a health centre was supposed to be built on it as part of a 435-home development.

Although the 435 residential units were built, the proposed health centre never came to fruition.

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Stonegate say the neglected site “has led to an increase in crime and has been a local eyesore within the West Reading area for over a decade”.

Of the 26 apartments, there would be eight three-beds, 13 two-beds and five one-beds.

Eight of the flats would be affordable homes, with a mix of rented and shared ownership, while there would be 22 parking spaces and two electric charging units.