Labour’s planning documents which they use to make judgements on planning applications includes a commitment to seek 50% affordable housing on all major developments where more than 15 houses are proposed. It is an excellent target given that not only is there a severe housing shortage in Reading but we have little hope of making inroads in to a council housing waiting list that numbers around 10,000. Given that the population of Reading is approximately 150,000, that is an awfully high number of people and families who are being forced into private rented accommodation, often in poor quality buildings.

So it was with great interest that I read a planning application to do with some minor matters relating to the scheme to rejuvenate the Dee Road Estate. The total scheme calls for the demolition of 376 houses on the site and replacing them with 763 houses and flats. However, even in one of their flagship schemes, the Labour council has only managed to provide 281 affordable homes out of the total of 763 being built. For the mathematicians amongst you, that equates to a measly 37% of the total.

So much for the 50% target that was introduced with fanfares only a year or two ago. Do please write and ask Cllr Page (Lead Councillor for Planning) what has happened to the 50% target which has never been anywhere near met on any major development project that I am aware of.