John Lewis submits BTR plans for 215 homes in Reading
The John Lewis Partnership has submitted a planning application to Reading Borough Council proposing the creation of new build-to-rent (BTR) homes.
The retailer has proposed an £80m transformation of a former distribution warehouse into 215 energy-efficient homes, along with 6,000 sq ft of internal amenity space, two external gardens, and improved public realm areas.
Located adjacent to the A329 and opposite The Oracle shopping centre in the town centre, the site sits in close proximity to Reading Train Station, providing access to London in under an hour.
The new project is set to include a mixture of one, two, and three bedroom homes which will be supplemented by shared areas for fitness, home-working, and socialising.
John Lewis said the homes will be highly sustainable, using high performance materials with renewable energy resources. Due to the development’s proximity to the town centre and the availability of the local transport network, the scheme will be car-free, barring accessible spaces.
The group added that the proposals reinforce its ambition to create a housing brand designed specifically for renters, in a bid to ease housing pressures and generate long-term, stable income.
Katherine Russell, director of BTR for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “We have worked closely with Reading Council’s planning officers, local residents and organisations to propose a scheme that will benefit residents and the wider community by transforming a disused industrial site into a thriving rental community. By revitalising brownfield land we have a fantastic opportunity to provide a significant number of homes which can help alleviate some of the growing pressure on Reading’s housing market. These will be homes not only developed by us, but managed by us, meaning we can offer quality service and a guarantee that homes will not be sold off, as so often happens in the rental market.”
John Lewis recently received a resolution to grant planning consent to transform a Waitrose site in Bromley. The proposals detail improvements to the existing shop and the construction of 350 homes.