John Lewis wins approval for £70m Reading rental homes scheme after NHS opposition

John Lewis has secured unanimous approval for a £70 million build to rent project in Reading, following significant debate over the impact on local health services and affordable housing provision. The prominent retailer will replace a vacant warehouse with 170 new rental flats, marking the third and final approval for its suite of flagship rental home schemes. This decision comes after a series of delays, which moved the intended opening back by a year.

Opposition emerged from several local groups, most notably NHS officials, who argued the proposed development would intensify pressure on already overburdened GP surgeries. In July, health service representatives expressed concern, citing their existing overcapacity and the challenge of accommodating an influx of new residents. Negotiations culminated in John Lewis agreeing to contribute approximately £147,000 to bolster local healthcare funding, addressing some of these worries. Additionally, the project was scaled back from its original 215 homes to 170 in response to community feedback.

During the planning committee meeting, Richard Bennett of the Reading Conservation Area Advisory Committee pointed to continued anxieties about “the lack of modern surgeries able to deal with the thousands of new residents brought by all the developments”. He highlighted that many local clinics are located in older buildings ill-suited to support expansion. Despite such misgivings, there was also recognition of the company’s public engagement, with councillors commending John Lewis for its robust consultation and willingness to alter plans.

The scheme has not been without controversy over affordable housing. Following renegotiations, just over one in six of the planned homes will be designated as affordable—a minor increase from the initial ten percent, yet still considerably below Reading’s target of thirty percent. Councillor John Ennis reflected local disappointment, noting, “Local people need affordability, so that’s disappointing.”

Katherine Russell, director of build to rent for the John Lewis Partnership, described the scheme as an opportunity to “invest further in the community by helping to deliver much-needed new homes,” reinforcing the company’s intent to carry its reputation for service into the housing sector. John Lewis has already received consent for build to rent units above Waitrose stores in West Ealing and Bromley, with 428 and 353 homes respectively.

The project is seen by some in the real estate sector as a key example of how corporate groups can help modernise the UK’s ageing private rental stock. Anne Breen, global head of real estate at Aberdeen, commented that “build to rent, done well, could go a long way to transform the UK’s private rental stock – much of which is ageing – to become places people truly want to live and call home.”