A plan has been submitted to replace an office building in Reading that used to be used by the probation service with more than 260 apartments with a unique living concept.
Greyfriars House in Greyfriars Road, Reading town centre was previously occupied by the probation service run by the government Ministry of Justice.
The probation service has moved to the Abbey Gardens office building, which has cleared the way for a development company to apply for it to be replaced with apartments.
The applicant, called 'Elder' is a London-based real estate company which has acquired Greyfriars House.
The project would see the sizeable building replaced with a 13-storey block containing 266 'co-living' flats.
Explaining the concept of co-living, a planning agent working for the developers wrote: "Purpose-built co-living accommodation typically comprises of self-contained units arranged with living and bedroom space, a small kitchenette and en suite bathroom, with each unit benefiting from additional communal space within the scheme.
"These areas can range from kitchens and common rooms to cinema rooms, terraces, gyms, laundry rooms and co-working space.
"In the typical co-living model, bills are all-inclusive and lease lengths are more flexible than in the traditional private rental sector and build-to-rent schemes."
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It is implied that co-living will provide flexibility for future occupants on a long-term and a short-term basis.
A planning document states: "The scheme would allow for flexible lease lengths of three plus months, and all-inclusive billing on utilities, gym, WiFi and co-working."
The project is car-free, with 72 secure cycle-parking spaces being provided instead.
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Of the 266 apartments provided, 80 flats will be offered at a 60-80 per cent discounted rent level, to comply with Reading Borough Council's policy of at least 30 per cent of units provided within a development being designated affordable.
Justifying this offer, a planning agent from Savills wrote: "The key benefits in this instance would be the ability to offer affordable housing units in a town centre location for single-person households, which is a form of affordable housing that is not commonly offered, particular in such a central location close to Reading Station.
"In particular, the discounted co-living units would be able to support accommodation for key workers such as those working or training at local NHS Trusts, including Royal Berkshire Hospital, interns working in the town centre as well as post-graduate students or those visiting the University of Reading and Reading College."
You can view the application by typing reference PL/24/1501 into the council's planning portal.
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