Izzy Lepone 10 October 2025

Council greenlights John Lewis rental home project

Council greenlights John Lewis rental home project image
© olesea vetrila / Shutterstock.com.

John Lewis’ plans to deliver 170 new homes in Reading have been unanimously supported by the council.

The £70m development was approved by Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee at a meeting on Wednesday and will involve 170 rental flats being built on a former industrial site.

According to the John Lewis Partnership, the properties will consist of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with roughly 16% of the stock delivered as affordable homes.

Alongside the rental homes, the development will also provide gardens and community spaces, as well as indoor social and fitness areas.

The partnership has suggested that the scheme will produce over 170 jobs and £18m within the next 10 years in additional household spending and Council Tax.

Cllr Micky Leng reportedly said: ‘You can see the difference in the way John Lewis has engaged with us, because as a partnership they think long-term and put the community at the centre.’

Katherine Russell, Director of Build-To-Rent for the John Lewis Partnership, said the partnership was ‘delighted’ with the committee’s decision.

Ms Russell added: ‘This planning consent marks an important moment in our 70-year commitment to Reading and has been achieved through close collaboration with the Local Authority. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to invest further in the community by helping to deliver much-needed new homes.’

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