University housing plan will be 'legacy', boss says

Prof Van de Noort accepted that not all residents will be supportive of the university's proposal

A university's plan for the first phase of a 4,000-home garden village will be supported by necessary infrastructure, its vice-chancellor has said.

The University of Reading wants to build Loddon Garden Village on land close to Shinfield and Lower Earley and it is included in Wokingham Borough Council's housing plans.

The application includes about 2,800 homes, three schools, community facilities, shops and a large country park.

Prof Robert Van de Noort said he accepted some residents would not like disruption caused by the development, but he hoped it would be an example for future plans.

Two applications for the other homes and facilities set to follow over coming months.

The university released an outline plan of where facilities might go at the garden village last week

"Ultimately as a university we have been here for over 100 years," he told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We want this to be a bit of a legacy to show how we can do really good development that addresses a national housing crisis but also is a meaningful enhancement for the people who already live here."

A Wokingham Council-run consultation opened last week for residents to leave their views on the first phase, which the authority expects will be decided in late 2026.

Prof Van de Noort said he accepted residents could be opposed to potential disruption and changes but that necessary infrastructure had been outlined.

He said: "I can understand why people who live here say: 'that's not really what we want.' I absolutely accept that.

"We've worked with [the council] very closely to try to do this in the best possible way, to build that thriving community here that we think is really worth doing."

But the reception from residents has not been wholly positive.

On Wokingham council's website, one said they feared the impact of pollution on "already choked roads". Another said the project was "just ridiculous".

Land close to St Bartholomew's Church in Arborfield could be built on if the plan is approved