A house will be demolished so that nine homes can be built on a patch of ‘rough land’ in Whitley.
A developer called Brett Property Developments applied to knock down 19 Newcastle Road, a bungalow, to clear the way for nine new homes to be built.
The plan faced opposition from neighbours and Green councillors over fears of the homes being crammed into the site to the rear of existing houses and the loss of green space.
But at a meeting, councillors ultimately judged that the site should be built on.
Councillor Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said: “Let’s not beat around the bush, this is back garden development, but there are times when that is appropriate, and I think that this is one of them.”
She added that back gardens in Newcastle Road have been allowed to go to ‘wrack and ruin’ and called the site where the houses will be built ‘rough land’.
Cllr Gavin said: “Essentially this is a brownfield site. It is a site which has been developed in the past, we are desperate for housing, it is surrounded by housing.
“It is a sound development, the houses are well designed, they fit in with the nature of the area, and I can see absolutely no reason why we should not welcome the addition of some extra housing.”
Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) had called for the decision to be deferred to conduct a site visit, but Labour councillors defeated that suggestion.
“Without that site visit, and with all those concerns, I guess that we’re forced to accept the officer’s recommendation and we’re forced to accept that the Local Plan allows this development.”
He added that he was disappointed that he felt unable to vote against the application as the site has been allocated for housing development in the Local Plan adopted in 2019.
Other councillors welcomed the development, which will be made up of five four-bed and four two-bed homes.
Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor planning, said: “Residents are crying out for houses all the time, they say we build too many flats, so we get a development with houses, and this is a good one.
“It’s a cul-de-sac, there are two allocated off-road parking spaces per house so it’s not going to add to parking congestion in Newcastle Road.
“These are good, family-sized houses. It’s a lovely area for the residents to live.”
The project was approved unanimously by the planning applications committee on Wednesday, January 10.
It was granted on the condition that Brett Property Developments pay £267,250 to secure affordable homes elsewhere, and a further contribution for enhanced biodiversity at another site.
You can view the approved application by typing reference 230974.
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