2 May 2025
The Council's Local Plan Partial Update (Draft November 2024) will replace the current plan (November 2019), after submission to the Secretary of State for review and adoption. The Partial Update extends the plan to 2041. Section 8 (pages 239-247) sets out the strategy for Caversham and Emmer Green, describing the sites for development and the principles that apply.
20 April 2025
The Environment Agency have now closed their Thames Valley Flood Scheme project and have issued this final April 2025 Newsletter.
12 April 2025
Both versions list current applications CADRA considers are of wider interest in our area, selected from Reading Borough Council's (RBC) and South Oxfordshire District Council's (SODC) lists.
For each application the list has the: site address, council ward, description, status, application type, a link to CADRA's comments and to the details held by Reading Borough Council (RBC) or South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).
As an application progresses we categorise them as:
Reading Borough Council has introduced a new planning application system. From Our initial observations all applications have been migrated from the previous system, but only selected supporting documents have been transferred to the new one. Documents not transferred can still be accessed on the old system, which remains operational. New submissions for undecided applications will be added only to the new system.
It seems it is not always possible to use the new system to add comments online, so CADRA is seeking clarification from the Council about this. In the mean time we suggest you email the planning officer (firstname.lastname@reading.gov.uk) and copy it to plgadmin@reading.gov.uk.
To search the two applications register: Planning applications
26 March 2025
We are delighted to bring you the Spring Newsletter. On the front page you will find more details of the speakers for the Open Meeting and AGM to be held on Tuesday 13 May 2025.
Page 2, brings you news on Planning, the Chilterns, Licensing and Climate.
Page 3 has updates for Emmer Green, Safer Neighbourhoods and the River Thames.
Page 4 covers information about CADRA and the Committee as well as the AGM agenda and how to make nominations for the Committee.
In her email to members our Chair wrote - You may know that I will be standing down as CADRA Chair at the AGM and this will be my last time as newsletter editor. After 20 years, it is time to move to the next chapter, and the new arrangements will be announced at the AGM.
My time as Chair has been hugely rewarding and it has been a great pleasure meeting so many of you. Thank you all for the support you bring - CADRA is nothing without its members. Please keep your comments coming and help CADRA to nurture and support Caversham and Emmer Green.
With thanks and good wishes
Helen Lambert - CADRA Chair
13 March 2025
The 2025 CADRA AGM and Open Meeting is taking place on Tuesday 13th May at 7.30 at the New Testament Church of God, Church St, Caversham. After a brief AGM we have speakers from Savills Planning Division. CADRA has previously hosted speakers from Council Planning Officers. This time we are pleased to welcome two speakers from the private sector who advise clients across residential, education and commercial development on planning applications, appeals and the Local Plan process.
Jon Sebbage, Associate Director is based in Reading. He will be supported by Planner, Róisín Moyne, who joined Savills in October 2024 and Amy Allen, Graduate Planner. There will be good opportunities for individual questions after the presentation.
The Planning System affects us all, whether we are hoping to get the best local decisions, keep up with what is changing around us, or maybe looking to make alterations to our homes. So, what is it and what is changing? More types of development are classed as ‘permitted’, shortening the process and details are emerging about the new planning bill.
27 January 2025
Here is a Conversation with Committee members about the work CADRA does, with video clips, independent testimonials and the Transcript. We are very grateful to Maria Lloyd ( My Local Marketer) who led the conversation and produced the podcast.
17 December 2024
The final Consultation on the updates to the Reading Local Plan will close on 18 December before submission to the Secretary of State. CADRA has submitted its Comments.
Changes for our area are limited but Hemdean House School is now identified for education, community use or 22-34 dwellings.
Requests to reference sites in South Oxfordshire within the Reading Local Plan were not accepted, on the basis that Reading expects to meet its housing needs in full, without assistance from neighbouring authorities.
If you are interested in the detail, we have produced a paper with relevant extracts - CADRA Summary
29 November 2024
Thank you to all who joined us for the very successful and fascinating November ta
lk on The Challenges for Front Line Ambulance Services, given by Paul Jefferies (Assistant Director of Operations, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust) and Richard Company (Critical Care Paramedic, Thames Valley Air Ambulance).
Your very generous donations raised an amazing £500 for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, and we have received this kind letter of thanks and a certificate for the donation.
27 November 2024
RBC's Traffic Management Sub-Committee considers traffic measure requests from Councillors, such as pedestrian crossings, traffic calming. The following documents are the requests for the North Reading area:
Amendments to Existing Measures
Principal List - All requests carried forward from previous meeting.
21 November 2024
These are license applications CADRA has commented on:
Alto Lounge 30-32A Church Street
1314488 - Spill Bar Ltd at 29 Church Street
123738 - 2022 Aug - Winter Wonderland Hills Meadow
120728 - 2021 Oct - Winter Wonderland Hills Meadow Car Park Objection
30 October 2024
The Friends of Clayfield Copse are celebrating National Tree Week with a walk around the copse and park, led by the Tree Wardens, on Sunday 24 November at 11am
8 October 2024
Here is the Autumn Newsletter bringing more details of the open meeting on Wednesday 13 November and a summary of key local news from the last six months.
The front page has details of our two speakers from frontline ambulance services who will bring a defibrillator to the meeting and demonstrate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There are also details of Christmas events.
The middle pages summarise news on Planning, Transport and issues impacting the local environment.
The back page gives details about CADRA as well as a list of useful contacts.
7 October 2024
There have been improvements and changes to the bus services running through our area this year and it might be useful to remind you about them.
Reading Buses services through Emmer Green have changed with the Berry 25/25a becoming half-hourly to Sonning Common.
The Henley-Reading bus service is now operated by Reading Buses, their Acqua 28 route.
Reading Buses now have two school routes connecting our area to the schools around the Royal Berkshire Hospital Route 80 and to Bulmershe Route 81.
Thames Travel's River Rapids X40 service runs between Reading and Oxford via Caversham Heights. The half-hourly service operates 6 days a week and hourly on Sunday, following the same route as Reading Buses 22 from the St Peters Avenue stop on the Woodcote Road.
On Sundays, extra journeys between Reading and Caversham operate as service 40C. These journeys operate via St Peter’s Hill and serve Highmoor Road Church 6 minutes before the time shown for Caversham Library.
Red Rose Travel an independent company runs services between Reading and Watlington, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Their Route 122 goes via the Peppard Road and Sonning Common, and Route 123 goes via Kidmore End, Gallowstree Common, Checkendon and Stoke Row.
25 September 2024
Historic England have an interesting Listed Buildings Search facility, that provides an easy way to look for listed buildings throughout the country, not just locally.
See also CADRA's list of Documents and Resources that has links to items used during the Conservations Areas Project, which you may find useful.
17 September 2024
Stay True to You provides information for parents, carers and those who support young people, 
with advice on how to help them stay safe from conflict and violence. As well as their website you may find this Leaflet useful.
