Towers plan for shopping centre 'out of keeping'

An MP has raised concerns over plans to add four towers, with 644 apartments, to a shopping centre.

Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading East, wrote to Reading Borough Council’s planning department to object to the Broad Street Mall project.

Mr Rodda expressed issue with the height of the towers, the fire safety of the development and the lack of social housing and open spaces in the plans.

Developer McClaren Living said it undertook "extensive public consultation and substantial pre-application engagement with Reading Borough Council" on the proposals.

Mr Rodda said: “The applicant is proposing to build exceptionally tall tower blocks on this site, in what would be a sudden and dramatic change to the appearance of Reading town centre.

"This would be out of keeping with the town.”

He went on to explain that the current tallest building in reading was 21 storeys tall, with the tallest proposed tower planned for Broad Street Mall being 31 storeys.

"I hope the council will oppose the application on this basis and for a number of other reasons," Mr Rodda said.

He added he was concerned with the fire safety of the towers and he believed the the open spaces and children's play area were "far below what is expected."

The MP also objected to the "small allocation of social homes" in the proposal.

Of the 644 apartments, 49 would be provided at affordable rent levels.

Oliver Westray, from McLaren Living, said the plans would reinvigorate the neighbourhood and act as a catalyst for wider regeneration in the area.

Addressing Mr Rodda's concerns, he said: "The height and design have been the subject of detailed discussions with planning officers, local politicians and a design review panel at pre-application stage, and post-submission discussions are ongoing."

He added the towers met Reading's housing need in a "sustainable manner" by taking away pressure to find housing elsewhere.

"We are currently seeking to provide 49 affordable homes within our scheme, more than what would have been delivered with the previously consented scheme," he continued.

Mr Westray also stressed that the scheme "meets the very highest fire safety standards".

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