15 December 2025
The picture for CADRA's Children’s Colouring Competition was drawn by local artist Janina Maher and shows Comet the Reindeer at the gates of Caversham Court Gardens. The prize for best entry is The Reading Detectives Book (or similar) and a water bottle from a local sports team. Please send your entries to info@cadra.org.uk by 5th January 2026.
Click picture picture for print size
8 December 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
1 December 2025
Understanding the Local Plan Update Process
Reading Borough Council (RBC) is updating its Local Plan, but what does this mean?
Think of the Local Plan as Reading's rulebook for how our town develops over the coming years – where new homes and businesses can be built, which green spaces are protected, and how our infrastructure needs to grow.
Why the update?
The current Local Plan was adopted in 2019. Local authorities are required to review their plans every five years to make sure they're still fit for purpose. When RBC carried out this review, they found that some sections needed updating to reflect changes in national policy and local circumstances. Rather than starting from scratch, they've produced a "Partial Update" – basically refreshing the parts that need it while keeping the rest of the 2019 Plan intact.
Why does it need examining?
Before this update can become official and legally binding, it must go through an independent examination – just like the original 2019 Plan did. The Government's Planning Inspectorate appoints an independent examiner (called an inspector) to check two key things:
If the inspector finds problems, they'll require the Council to make modifications before the plan can be adopted.
What are the public hearings about?
The hearings are a crucial part of the examination process. They give the inspector a chance to dig deeper into concerns raised by local groups (like CADRA, our residents' association), developers, and other organisations. It's where different viewpoints are tested and debated, helping the inspector reach their conclusions about whether the plan should be approved.
21 November 2025
RBC's Traffic Management Sub-Committee considers traffic measure requests from Councillors. Typically, these are for junction improvements, new pedestrian crossings and traffic calming schemes. CADRA extracts and publishes the measures relating to the wards in our area. The information is as provided by Reading Borough Council.
For the sub-committee's November 2025 meeting there are no new requests, but there are several North Reading measures which are being proposed for removal from the list.
Traffic Measures Retained List for North Reading
Traffic Management Sub-Commit Agenda for its November 2025 meeting.
11 November 2025
Wednesday 19 November at 7.30pm in St Barnabas Church, Corner of Evesham Road and Grove Road RG4 8RA
Olly Stephens was just 13 when he was set up, plotted against and lured out of his home due to an argument on social media. Olly was a victim of knife crime and was killed by other children in Bugs Bottom, Emmer Green. Almost 5 years on, his bereaved mother, Amanda, has become a standard-bearer for raising awareness of action to protect young people. This has culminated in the creation of the charity ‘The Olly Stephens Trust’. Amanda will explain what ‘Olly’s Work’ does and how it seeks to educate others. Her presentation will be followed by a talk from Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Community Safety Manager, Sarah Gardner and RBC’s Safer Public Realm Officer, Kiar Greyfaulk. They will explain the partner organisations that work with RBC to help protect young people. There will be plenty of opportunity for these speakers to answer questions from the floor. The meeting is open to all (not just CADRA members). Refreshments will be available.
Car parking: there will be spaces to park in the Emmer Green Surgery car park and Emmer Green Primary School car park (please refrain from parking outside the church as this will be reserved for guest speakers & disabled badge holders).
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There will also be a prize draw. Attendees will have the chance to win two tickets to Reading Rep’s Christmas production of A Christmas Carol set in Huntley and Palmers Biscuit factory. Other prizes include: Emmer Green Past and Present book reprinted by CADRA, Caversham Court Gardens a Heritage Guide book, a Goody Bag from No5 and some packs of our wonderful CADRA Heritage Greetings Cards.
26 October 2025
Wednesday 19 November at 7.30pm in St Barnabas Church, Corner of Evesham Road and Grove Road RG4 8RA
Olly Stephens was just 13 when he was set up, plotted against and lured out of his home due to an argument on social media. Olly was a victim of knife crime and was killed by other children in Bugs Bottom, Emmer Green. Almost 5 years on, his bereaved mother, Amanda, has become a standard-bearer for raising awareness of action to protect young people. This has culminated in the creation of the charity ‘The Olly Stephens Trust’. Amanda will explain what ‘Olly’s Work’ does and how it seeks to educate others. Her presentation will be followed by a talk from Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Community Safety Manager, Sarah Gardner and RBC’s Safer Public Realm Officer, Kiar Greyfaulk. They will explain the partner organisations that work with RBC to help protect young people. There will be plenty of opportunity for these speakers to answer questions from the floor. The meeting is open to all (not just CADRA members). Refreshments will be available.
Car parking: there will be spaces to park in the Emmer Green Surgery car park and Emmer Green Primary School car park (please refrain from parking outside the church as this will be reserved for guest speakers & disabled badge holders).
There will also be a prize draw. Attendees will have the chance to win two tickets to Reading Rep’s Christmas production of A Christmas Carol set in Huntley and Palmers Biscuit factory. Other prizes include: Emmer Green Past and Present book reprinted by CADRA, Caversham Court Gardens a Heritage Guide book, a Goody Bag from No5 and some packs of our wonderful CADRA Heritage Greetings Cards.
16 October 2025
The recent meeting North Reading Safer Neighbourhood Forum included a summary of the results of the Safer Reading Survey.
26 July 2025
CADRA was disappointed hear that the review has been indefiniteley postponed because of lack of funding. We have written to Matt Rodda MP asking him to support the review CADRA Letter .
Natural England are conducting a boundary review of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). They have recently published a paper of Frequently Asked Questions, to explain what AONBs are and the process for reviewing the existing boundaries, with specific reference to the Chilterns.
GLOBE, who are having discussions with and seeking the support of Matt Roda MP are keen to ensure, as is CADRA, that vulnerable local sites in SODC, that border Caversham and Emmer Green, are included in an extended AONB. On the west side of Caversham Heights the AONB boundary is the SODC and RBC boundary, whilst in other parts it is only a few hundred metres from the Council boundary.
The review includes consultation with statutory bodies, key stakeholders and the public. Natural England don't expect a submission to the Defra Secretary of State before October 2024. They do not know how long it will take for the Secretary of State to make a decision or whether there will be a public enquiry.
19 July 2025
The 2025 programme in Caversham starts with a full day of events on Saturday 13 September, linked to this year’s theme of Architecture:- Bridges, Buildings and Beehives and extending into Meteorology.
Caversham Court Gardens has drop in events from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm with workshops in the vinery for families: suitable for children aged 5+, but all welcome.
This is part of the excellent Look, Draw , Build programme. Children are encouraged to look at shapes and patterns, draw their favourite view and build imaginative structures inspired by what they have seen and drawn. All materials provided. Look, Draw, Build in Caversham Court
Caversham Baptist Church will host a series of events that day.
The afternoon will conclude at 4.45pm. All the events are free to attend but donations towards costs would be appreciated. Cash or card. Some local publications will be on sale.
Places for each talk need to be booked separately. For the full programme of events, see Heritage Open Days and search by location or date.
24 June 2025
Gladman Developments has put forward proposals for 1200 houses and a "Vision for Land North o
f Reading". This is seeking to influence the Local Plans for both Reading and South Oxfordshire while they are each being assessed by a Planning Inspector on behalf of the Secretary of State. Their proposals are not in line with the policies submitted by Reading or South Oxfordshire. CADRA has been monitoring the documents and we will keep you informed of any significant developments. The document is public and can be seen on the CADRA website at Gladman Playhatch Emmer Green Vision.pdf
16 May 2025
Here is a link to Savills Presentation given at CADRA's 2025 AGM and Open Meeting.
15 May 2025
The Council's Local Plan Partial Update (Draft November 2024) was submitted on 05 May 2025 to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Housing for review and adoption. The plan will replace the current plan (November 2019), 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.
