Proposal to build 35 homes on field close to Caversham’s Highdown Avenue revealed

A PRE-development application has been lodged to build 35 homes on a field close to Caversham, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter.

Real Capital Developments want to create the development at land off Highdown Avenue.

Although the site is in what many would consider to be Caversham, it is over the border and the application will be determined by South Oxfordshire council.

There would be 13 threebed homes, plus 11 two-bed, six four-bed homes and five apartments. Fourteen homes would be affordable – 40% of the development.

And the homes would be a mixture of one, one-and-a-half and two-stories. All five one-bed apartments would be in a twostorey building.

The access road would be through Highdown Avenue.

Accompanying the request, are photos that appear to show the field is not in regular use.

There are abandoned shacks on the edges, and an existing paddock for equestrian activities in the centre of the site.

The application is number 220630 on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.

Because the plan is in a preapplication stage, it is not yet visible on the South Oxfordshire District Council planning portal, its reference is P22/S1388/PEJ.

A letter by planning agents GL Hearn Ltd on behalf of the developer states: “We are submitting this request to secure South Oxfordshire District Council’s pre-application advice in regard to the preliminary proposals we have developed for the site.

“In this way we can review any technical or design advice the council may consider relevant to the development of this site, in finalising our proposed submission for planning.

“In particular we would welcome your feedback on the documents and drawings that would be required as part of an outline planning application for the site.”

The site falls just west of the old Reading Golf Course, where

223 homes are set to be built after Reading Borough Council’s planning committee approved the scheme in March.

The applicants for that development, Fairfax Ltd and Reading Golf Club, also have an extant appeal against the committee’s refusal of its previous plan for 257 homes.

The appeal can be found on the Government’s planning inspectorate website, reference APP/E0345/W/22/3291615.

The application is also close to The Piggeries, where plan to build two five-bedroom homes has been opposed by Reading East MP Matt Rodda.