Reading University (UoR) and their property developer UPP have lost an appeal to replace much of the St Patrick’s Hall site on Northcourt Avenue with new multistorey student accommodation blocks.
Robert Cox, Simone Illger and John Bayes of NARA outside St Patricks New Court
Residents of Northcourt Avenue in Reading will take an active part in an eight-day planning appeal this month brought by property developer UPP to build new multistorey student accommodation blocks at the St Patrick’s site for Reading University.
The University of Reading (UoR) and property developer UPP have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate to redevelop St Patrick’s Hall on Northcourt Avenue. Reading Borough Council (RBC) refused the University’s application in February 2018. Public objections need to be submitted to the inspectorate before 18 October.
Robert Cox, Simone Illger and John Bayes of NARA outside St Patrick’s New Court.
Residents of Northcourt Avenue are preparing to oppose Reading University’s plans to redevelop St Patrick’s Hall with new buildings described by Reading Civic Society as “almost brutal.”
The University of Reading is looking for public comment on its new proposals to redevelop St Patrick’s hall on Northcourt Avenue. The university withdrew its previous proposal after a petition, protest from the Victorian Society and the local listing of Pearson’s Court by Reading Borough Council.
Quadrangle at St Patrick’s Hall
Reading University are holding a public exhibition of their new plans to redevelop St Patrick’s Hall on Wednesday 11 January at 6pm. [Note: this exhibition has been postponed].
Quadrangle at St Patrick’s Hall
Reading University has submitted detailed plans on the demolition and redevelopment of St Patrick’s Hall on Northcourt Avenue, including comments from the local community.
A piano in St Patrick’s Hall common room
An online petition has been started to protest Reading University‘s plans to redevelop St Patrick’s Hall on Northcourt Avenue.
Northcourt Avenue Residents’ Association (NARA) have launched a consultation to ask people living near the University of Reading (UoR) Whiteknights campus about their experiences of living near the university and its students.
The government planning inspector who examined Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) new local plan has advised that clarification is needed on the policy on student accommodation developments. The local plan will guide Reading’s planning policy until 2036, and this is the first time that Reading will have had a planning policy on development for student housing.
Under the new chairmanship of Whitley ward councillor Emmett McKenna, two University planning applications were mentioned at the first Reading Borough Council (RBC) planning applications committee of the new mayoral year.
Reading University plans to hold its next community forum on Thursday 26 September.
Black History Mural on race day 2018
Last year, the Reading half marathon was called off at short notice because of treacherous, icy conditions on the roads. The weather remains unpredictable this year; Reading may have had some of its best summer weather in February!
Reading University hosted its second community forum at the Chancellor’s building on their Whiteknights campus on 29 January. An estimated 60 people attended the forum. They complained about the anti-social behaviour of university students which included late-night noise and drunkenness, public urination, property damage and intimidation.
Garbage at the Whitley Park Lane bus stop
A resident of Whitley Park Lane has complained to Reading University about the antisocial behaviour of students at the nearby bus stop, near the Queen’s Head pub on Christchurch Road.
Reading Borough Council will be discussing issues in Church, Katesgrove, Redlands and Whitley wards during planning applications committee this week.
The apparently relentless drive to convert the area’s pubs, offices and vacant lots into flats and HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) continued apace this year. Some proposals, including the demolition of the After Dark Club and the Woodley Arms, were rejected, whilst others, such as the new residential care home near the Rising Sun Arts Centre, will proceed. The saving of the South Street Arts Centre was a major success in keeping Katesgrove at the front of Reading’s arts scene.
2016 is Reading’s year of culture and events are being held all over the town. This coincides with the 25th reincarnation birthday of Katesgrove’s own Rising Sun Arts Centre. Meanwhile, Reading’s growing pains means that the stand-off between development and residents doesn’t look like it will end any time soon, and the struggle between social need and council budget cuts appears to be reaching a crisis.
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