PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 November 2017 DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● APRIL 2017 FOREWORD FOREWORD By Councillor Tony Page The Local Plan will be the document that guides development in Reading up to 2036, and it will therefore play a decisive role in how our town evolves over the next two decades. We are publishing this draft of the plan for consultation, and it is important to have your views on it, so that they can be taken into account in finalising the plan. Over recent years, Reading has had considerable economic success, and this has resulted in considerable investment to the town. However, this success brings its own issues. In particular, Reading faces a housing crisis. There are not enough homes in general, and there is a particularly acute need for affordable housing, which represents more than half of our overall housing need. This document is a major part of our response to this issue, although we continue to work with neighbouring Councils to look at the needs of the Reading area as a whole. Other critical issues to be considered include how to provide the employment space and supporting infrastructure to make sure that Reading’s attractiveness as a place to work, to live and to study can continue. The benefits of Reading’s economic success also need to be shared out more equally with those communities in Reading that suffer high levels of deprivation and exclusion. The plan also looks again at the message that Reading’s environment sends to visitors and residents, both in terms of revitalising tired and run-down sites and areas, and in placing greater focus on our considerable, but often overlooked, historic legacy. We sought your views on which issues this plan should address in 2016, and consulted on a draft plan in 2017. This is the version that we propose to put to the Government for approval. We are keen to hear your views, and I hope that you take this opportunity to get involved. Tony Page Deputy Leader, Reading Borough Council and Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● NOVEMBER 2017 1 CONTENTS CONTENTS 1. Introduction 7 1.1 Role and Status of the Document 7 1.2 Context for Reading 7 1.3 Relationship with Other Plans and Strategies 9 1.4 Process of Production 10 1.5 Evidence and Technical Reports 10 2. Vision and Objectives 12 2.1 Vision 12 2.2 Objectives 13 3. Spatial Strategy 15 3.1 Western Berkshire Housing Market Area 15 3.2 Spatial Strategy for Reading 17 4. General Policies 21 4.1 Cross-Cutting Policies 21 4.2 Built and Natural Environment 34 4.3 Employment 65 4.4 Housing 72 4.5 Transport 98 4.6 Retail, Leisure and Culture 107 4.7 Other Uses 115 Area-Specific Sections 123 5. Central Reading 124 5.1 Area Context 124 5.2 Strategy for Central Reading 125 5.3 General Policies for Central Reading 129 5.4 Central Reading Site-Specific Policies 144 6. South Reading 165 6.1 Area Context 165 6.2 Strategy for South Reading 166 6.3 South Reading Site-Specific Policies 169 7. West Reading and Tilehurst 181 7.1 Area Context 181 7.2 Strategy for West Reading and Tilehurst 181 7.3 West Reading and Tilehurst Site-Specific Policies 184 8. Caversham and Emmer Green 196 8.1 Area Context 196 8.2 Strategy for Caversham and Emmer Green 197 8.3 Caversham and Emmer Green Site-Specific Policies 198 2 PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● NOVEMBER 2017 CONTENTS 9. East Reading 204 9.1 Area Context 204 9.2 Strategy for East Reading 204 9.3 East Reading Site-Specific Policies 207 10. Implementation 214 10.1 Implementation Measures 214 10.2 Delivery Timescales 216 10.3 Infrastructure Delivery Plan 220 11. Monitoring 229 12. Glossary 234 Appendices 242 Appendix 1: Housing Trajectory 243 Appendix 2: Criteria for Locally Listing Buildings, Structure, Parks and Gardens 246 PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● NOVEMBER 2017 3 LIST OF POLICIES LIST OF POLICIES CC1: PRESUMPTION IN FAVOUR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 21 CC2: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 21 CC3: ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE 23 CC4: DECENTRALISED ENERGY 24 CC5: WASTE MINIMISATION AND STORAGE 26 CC6: ACCESSIBILITY AND THE INTENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT 27 CC7: DESIGN AND THE PUBLIC REALM 28 CC8: SAFEGUARDING AMENITY 30 CC9: SECURING INFRASTRUCTURE 31 EN1: PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT 37 EN2: AREAS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 38 EN3: ENHANCEMENT OF CONSERVATION AREAS 39 EN4: LOCALLY IMPORTANT HERITAGE ASSETS 40 EN5: PROTECTION OF SIGNIFICANT VIEWS WITH HERITAGE INTEREST 40 EN6: NEW DEVELOPMENT IN A HISTORIC CONTEXT 42 EN7: LOCAL GREEN SPACE AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE 42 EN8: UNDESIGNATED OPEN SPACE 45 EN9: PROVISION OF OPEN SPACE 45 EN10: ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE 48 EN11: WATERSPACES 49 EN12: BIODIVERSITY AND THE GREEN NETWORK 51 EN13: MAJOR LANDSCAPE FEATURES AND AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY 54 EN14: TREES, HEDGES AND WOODLAND 55 EN15: AIR QUALITY 56 EN16: POLLUTION AND WATER RESOURCES 59 EN17: NOISE GENERATING EQUIPMENT 60 EN18: FLOODING AND DRAINAGE 61 EM1: PROVISION OF EMPLOYMENT 65 EM2: LOCATION OF NEW EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT 68 EM3: LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT LAND 69 EM4: MAINTAINING A VARIETY OF PREMISES 70 H1: PROVISION OF HOUSING 72 H2: DENSITY AND MIX 73 H3: AFFORDABLE HOUSING 76 H4: BUILD TO RENT SCHEMES 78 H5: STANDARDS FOR NEW HOUSING 80 H6: ACCOMMODATION FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE 84 H7: PROTECTING THE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK 85 H8: RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS 86 H9: HOUSE EXTENSIONS AND ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION 89 H10: PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL OUTDOOR SPACE 90 H11: DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL GARDENS 92 H12: STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 94 4 PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● NOVEMBER 2017 LIST OF POLICIES H13: PROVISION FOR GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS 95 H14: SUBURBAN RENEWAL AND REGENERATION 96 TR1: ACHIEVING THE TRANSPORT STRATEGY 98 TR2: MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS 99 TR3: ACCESS, TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAY-RELATED MATTERS 103 TR4: CYCLE ROUTES AND FACILITIES 104 TR5: CAR AND CYCLE PARKING AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING 105 RL1: NETWORK AND HIERARCHY OF CENTRES 107 RL2: SCALE AND LOCATION OF RETAIL, LEISURE AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT 108 RL3: VITALITY AND VIABILITY OF SMALLER CENTRES 109 RL4: BETTING SHOPS AND PAYDAY LOAN COMPANIES 112 RL5: IMPACT OF MAIN TOWN CENTRE USES 113 RL6: PROTECTION OF LEISURE FACILITIES AND PUBLIC HOUSES 113 OU1: NEW AND EXISTING COMMUNITY FACILITIES 115 OU2: HAZARDOUS INSTALLATIONS 117 OU3: TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT 118 OU4: ADVERTISEMENTS 119 OU5: SHOPFRONTS AND CASH MACHINES 121 CR1: DEFINITION OF CENTRAL READING 129 CR2: DESIGN IN CENTRAL READING 129 CR3: PUBLIC REALM IN CENTRAL READING 131 CR4: LEISURE, CULTURE AND TOURISM IN CENTRAL READING 132 CR5: DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS IN CENTRAL READING 133 CR6: LIVING IN CENTRAL READING 134 CR7: PRIMARY FRONTAGES IN CENTRAL READING 136 CR8: SMALL SHOP UNITS IN CENTRAL READING 137 CR9: TERRACED HOUSING IN CENTRAL READING 138 CR10: TALL BUILDINGS 138 CR11: STATION/RIVER MAJOR OPPORTUNITY AREA 144 CR12: WEST SIDE MAJOR OPPORTUNITY AREA 150 CR13: EAST SIDE MAJOR OPPORTUNITY AREA 154 CR14: OTHER SITES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL READING 158 CR15: THE READING ABBEY QUARTER 163 CR16: AREAS TO THE NORTH OF FRIAR STREET AND EAST OF STATION ROAD 164 SR1: ISLAND ROAD MAJOR OPPORTUNITY AREA 169 SR2: LAND NORTH OF MANOR FARM ROAD MAJOR OPPORTUNITY AREA 172 SR3: SOUTH OF ELGAR ROAD MAJOR OPPORTUNITY AREA 174 SR4: OTHER SITES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH READING 176 SR5: LEISURE AND RECREATION USE OF THE KENNETSIDE AREAS 180 WR1: DEE PARK 184 WR2: PARK LANE PRIMARY SCHOOL, THE LAURELS AND DOWNING ROAD 185 WR3: OTHER SITES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN WEST READING AND TILEHURST 187 WR4: POTENTIAL TRAVELLER TRANSIT SITE AT COW LANE 194 CA1: SITES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN CAVERSHAM AND EMMER GREEN 198 PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● NOVEMBER 2017 5 LIST OF POLICIES CA2: CAVERSHAM PARK 201 ER1: SITES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN EAST READING 207 ER2: WHITEKNIGHTS CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF READING 211 ER3: ROYAL BERKSHIRE HOSPITAL 212 6 PRE-SUBMISSION DRAFT READING BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN ● NOVEMBER 2017 1. INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Role and status of the document 1.1.1 The Local Plan for Reading is the document that contains the policies for how Reading will develop up to 2036, which is the end date of the plan. It identifies the amount of development that will take place, the areas and sites where development is expected to be accommodated, and where it will be restricted, and sets out policies for how planning applications will be decided. 1.1.2 Once adopted, the plan will have ‘development plan’ status. This means that, legally, it will be the main consideration in deciding planning applications in Reading. Decisions should be in line with the plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise1. 1.1.3 The local plan will replace all existing development plans in Reading. This means that the Core Strategy (adopted 2008, amended 2015), Reading Central Area Action Plan (adopted 2009) and Sites and Detailed Policies Document (adopted 2012, amended 2015) will all cease to be used once this Local Plan is adopted. With the exception of minerals and waste planning, which will be undertaken jointly with neighbouring authorities, it will mean that all planning policies are contained within a single document, which will make our policy substantially simpler. 1.1.4 It is important that this document is read as a whole. Whilst there might, for instance, be a policy dealing with a specific type of development (for example, development for schools) or site, other policies in the plan may also be relevant, for instance around amenity or design.