Latest on what will replace old Sports Direct in Reading

The store will be occupied by a menswear company, which has recently applied to the council for its advertising to be put up on the shopfront.

Elsewhere, a fresh plan has been submitted for a new home in the university area, and work is set to start on improvements to a council-owned tower in Coley.

You can view each application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Latest on takeover of old Sports Direct in Broad Street (240478)

A CGI of what the Slater Menswear sign for the old Sports Direct shop in Broad Street, Reading will look like. Credit: Signs Express

Slater Menswear is moving ahead with its project to occupy the old Sports Direct store at 90-93 Broad Street.

Work currently taking place inside the unit involves installing new stud walls, toilets, a kitchen, air conditioning, stock railing and more.

Now, Slater has applied for advertising consent for its trademark white lettering and black branding to be added to the shopfront.

The company also wants to add a projecting sign to the store so they can see its logo when walking along Broad Street.

New home in university area (240279)

A CGI of the plan for a new home in Upper Redlands Road, East Reading. Credit: The Keen Partnership

The owner of a patch of land in Upper Redlands Road opposite Wantage Hall in the university area has applied to build a new home there.

The land has long been dormant, with a five-bedroom home for the site being approved in December 2021.

The site subject of a plan for a new home in Upper Redlands Road, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

A fresh plan would create a home with four double bedrooms and the usual cooking and living facilities.

A previous application, reference 231288, was refused last November, with planning officer Ethne Humphreys ruling the design was inappropriate, and expressing concerns over tree loss.

Progress on works to Coley high-rise tower improvements (240473)

The construction site in Wensley Road, Coley, where Reading Borough Council is building new homes and flats. Credit: Google Maps

Progress is being made on a project that will see improvements made to Wensley Court, a high rise owned by the council in Coley.

The council’s own project to make improvements to the towers in Coley was approved in 2021.

A CGI of what Wensley Court, 193 Wensley Road, Coley could look like once the improvements have been made. Credit: Reading Borough Council / hta / Gleeds

Now, a construction method statement dictating how work will take place on one of the high rises, Wensley Court, has been submitted.

Work will take place between 8am and 4pm on construction days, and the statement also has information about construction deliveries, the creation of dust and how workers will recycle when on site.

Replacement of garage with extensions in Emmer Green (240487)

The floorplan for applied for extensions to a semi-detached home in Knights Way Emmer Green. Credit: Bonney Architecture

The new owners of a house in Emmer Green want to replace the garage with a two-storey extension.

The semi-detached house in Knights Way currently has a garage and store, an open plan living and dining room, and a separate kitchen at ground level, and two bedrooms on the first floor.

The semi-detached home in Knights Way, Emmer Green, subject of a plan to replace the garage with a two-storey extension. Credit: Google Maps

The owners, who bought the house last March, want to demolish the garage and store and replace it with extensions.

These would create a study, a shower toilet, a new kitchen and a family room at ground level, and space for a double bedroom with ensuite shower toilet on the first floor.