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Shoppers fear the loss of a popular supermarket if a huge development in Reading is given permission.
People responding to a consultation on a plan which could see the Reading Station Shopping Park knocked down and replaced with as many as 950 new homes have stated losing the shop would be a major blow.
A second public exhibition was held showcasing Aviva Investors plans for the site off Caversham Road, which revealed some of the feedback received after the plans went on display last month.
A spokeswoman at the event said numerous people had raised losing the Aldi store currently at the site as a big blow.
TGI Fridays, Mothercare, The Range and Majestic Wine Warehouse are also at the retail park and all are set to be demolished once their respective leases end.
However, she stressed that if the development gets permission, there are numerous retail units planned which could house a new supermarket.
She conceded shoppers would have to go elsewhere for a number of years, but said there are likely to be shops at the site once it’s finished.
The developer hopes to submit plans for homes, offices and retail units for the site in Reading, Berkshire, before Christmas.
It will be an outline application, with final designs set out in a Reserved Matters application in 2020, which will set out the designs and final layout of the site.
The vast majority of concerns raised were by people living in Caversham, and included questioning whether Reading needs more offices, too many flats and traffic.
Questions were also raised over the height of the tallest building on the site, which have been noted by developers, which has changed its plan to make it smaller.
On traffic concerns, the developer has previously stated the development will be “primarily car free”.
BerkshireLive understands that if permission is given, it will be written in the conditions that anyone living at the site who does have a car, will not be eligible for a parking permit in Reading.
This is to avoid drivers parking their cars in nearby roads.
More positive feedback included:
- Welcoming the proposed walkway and cycle access linking Reading Station to Vastern Road and the River Thames
- Green spaces and trees proposed at the site
- Improvement to the area
- More shops and restaurants
- The development being largely car free
- More housing
The outline application is likely to be for between 750 and 950 new homes, ranging from studio to three-bed aparments.
The spokeswoman said: “Following our first public exhibition held in September and our continued engagement with the community, we have received a lot of valuable and constructive feedback especially from local residents and community groups.
“We have listened to the feedback and have evolved our emerging proposals, as much as we can, as we move towards submitting our outline planning application at the end of the year.”
Massive transformation
(Image: Hermes)
The plans form part of an extraordinary transformation of the area around Vastern Road , where there are number of big housing developments which could be approved.
Next to the site is the Reading Metropolitan development.
Plans have been submitted which would see the former Royal Mail depot in Caversham Road demolished and replaced with 641 flats and 17 town houses.
The tallest block on the site would be 25 storeys.
Across the road, a plan is being prepared which could see the former home of Drews the Ironmongers turned into homes.
Across Vastern Road, a plan for more than 200 homes is imminent for the former home of SSE.
And the Thames Quarter development off Kings Meadow Road is already underway, and flying up rapidly.
For more information on the plans visit www.rssp.co.uk .
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