30th October 2006 

The planning decision taken today to expand the Westgate to the size of Reading's Oracle Shopping Centre [1] will increase congestion, reduce air quality, lose affordable homes and impact on local businesses, say Greens.

The decision by the Council's Central Planning Committee to approve plans for the massive expansion of retail at the Westgate will prove an environmental disaster [2], say the Greens, and are a missed opportunity to provide much needed affordable housing in the City Centre.

The committee voted 7 for the application (4 Labour and 3 LibDem) and 4 against (2 Green, 1 IWCA and 1 LibDem). One Labour member failed to show (Cllr Abassi) and didnt send either apologies or a substitute.

FMI:

Cllr Nuala Young (on planning committee)

01865 749459

Notes:

[1] Oracle vs. Westgate

The Oracle is 700,000 sqft whereas the Westgate will be 750,000 sqft

[2] Apart from problems with traffic generation and pollution, the building fails to meet the Council's recently adopted Natural Resource Impact Analysis. A maximum of 4% of the energy use is from renewable resources whereas the NRIA requires a minimum of 20%. The development is likely to lead to a substantial increase in climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions.

[3] The application will result in the demolition of 14, purpose built flats (for vulnerable people) at Abbey Place. 127 new units will be provided but taking into account the loss of Abbey Place, less than half will be affordable. As the Council owns the land, more than 1,200 additional affordable homes could have been provided on the site (calculated by dividing the retail area 750,000 sqft (or 69,000 square metres) by 50 square metres - the size of a generous one bedroom flat).