Plans to expand the rooftop of a new town centre food hall and hotel are set to be refused on Thursday due to noise concerns.

Market House, in Market Place, was given planning permission in October 2018 and a premises licence two months after.

Owners City Pub Co have applied for a licence variation to change the layout of the former Lloyds bank, including expanding the rooftop terrace and changing the ground floor layout.

Rebecca Moon, senior health and environment officer at Reading Borough Council (RBC), said the rooftop expansion would ‘likely result in public nuisance to nearby residential premises’ due to noise from people talking and music on the terrace.

Senior planning officer Matt Burns also raised concerns over the noise impact of an expanded rooftop but added criticism of the amended ground floor layout.

He added: “The amended ground floor layout appears to reduce the amount of seating, enlarge both bar areas and remove one food servery area.

“I have concern that these changes make bar use the predominant element of the ground floor and has potential to increase noise and disturbance.”

He said both layout changes would be contrary to the approved planning permission.

Both officers also raised concerns about the impact lighting would have on surrounding residential properties, including the approved development at Jackson Corner.

The application will be discussed at the council’s Licensing committee at 9.30am on Thursday, May 9, at the Civic Offices in Bridge Street.

The current licence, issued by the council in December, allows alcohol to be sold between 10am and 11pm.

The building is within the council’s Cumulative Impact Area, where the council aims to limit the potential impact of a significant number of licensed premises concentrated in one area.

Licensing officer Clyde Masson said the application is contrary to the cumulative impact policy and does not take the council’s licensing policy into account.

He recommended that the applicant withdraw its application and obtain suitable planning permission before applying again.

Market House is expected to open in mid-July.