Recently, government ministers approved a project to build 1,000 flats, office space and more at the Reading Station Shopping Park just north of the station.
The project would involve the closure of The Range, Majestic Wines, Aldi, One Below and Reading’s oldest TGI Fridays so that new homes, offices and retail space could be built.
The decision was made by the secretary of state for housing, levelling up and communities after a public inquiry.
READ MORE: Days of Aldi, The Range and other stores numbered as 1,000 flats project is approved
Reading Borough Council was unable to pass judgement on the project as a deadline for a decision to be made was not met, leaving it to be decided by the government.
Now, Reading Borough Council has submitted an application to the High Court for the decision to be re-assessed and possibly overturned.
The council has argued that the inspector who dealt with the inquiry, Susan Heywood, sided with its reasons for refusal, such as the sheer size of the blocks proposed, impact on daylight and lack of open space.
Those reasons for refusal were determined in a council planning applications committee meeting in February 2022, where the committee agreed that they would refuse the project if they were able to pass judgment on it.
Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), the lead councillor for planning and assets said: “The council expressed its extreme disappointment at the secretary of state’s decision on Vastern Court proposals last month, which reversed previous decisions made by officers, councillors and, subsequently, the planning inspector following a very detailed process at the public inquiry.
“The Council firmly stands by its initial reasons for refusal and, after taking legal advice, we believe we have a strong case to challenge the decision at the High Court.
“The secretary of state concluded the re-use of the brownfield site in the town centre location outweighs the harms identified by the inspector, and by local representatives before that.
“The decision brings into question the value of any local authority having adopted policies and reaching planning decisions, or indeed holding detailed planning inquiries when decisions are appealed, if outcomes can be so readily overturned.”
Now the application to the High Court has been made, it will be up to a judge to decide whether they will side with the council and refuse the application, or dismiss it, allowing the development to go ahead.
Cllr Leng explained: “The council awaits the High Court ruling on whether the challenge can be progressed and if it ultimately leads to dismissal of the appeal, as originally recommended by the inspector, or whether the appeal could still be allowed, albeit on a much clearer basis than we have been offered to date.
“We will not allow the secretary of state to ride roughshod over and undermine the local democratic planning process.”
The Station Shopping Park contains the town’s oldest TGI Fridays, which opened in August 1989.
The Range already has plans to move to the Brunel Retail Park in Whitley, which is experiencing a boost since the arrival of Home Bargains and B&M.
The secretary of state for housing, levelling up and communities is Michael Gove.
The letter declaring the decision on March 21 contains the name of Lee Rowley, the minister for housing and planning.