Plans for a 22-storey building including a hotel and offices are expected to be approved this week despite concerns over height.

The ‘No.1 Reading’ proposals for 29-35 Station Road include a 135-room hotel, five floors of office space, a restaurant, and a retail unit on the ground floor.

The 1950s former Norwich Union building has been vacant since 2013 with several proposals over the past 20 years being granted planning permission but not seeing it through.

Concern has previously been raised over the height of the development opposite Reading Station.

Kathryn McCann, a candidate for the Green Party in May’s elections, said: “It’s pretty dull looking yet dominant and a few storeys too high.

“It would be right in front of the Thames Tower roof terrace so it seems pretty thoughtless to totally block the view.”

The site is, however, in RBC’s tall buildings zone and has previous planning consent for a 22-storey residential development.

Officers have recommended that the committee approve the development subject to 32 conditions including a time limit of three years to build the site and limiting the hours of use of restaurants, cafes and shop.

The report states: “When applying an overall critical planning balance of all material considerations, the benefits of the proposals are considered to outweigh the disbenefits.

“Accordingly the proposals are considered to be acceptable within the context of national and local planning policies.”

The £30 million plans were submitted by Station Road Dev Co Ltd in December 2018.

 The application is one of 11 that Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee will hear next Wednesday in a bumper last session before the summer break.

Station Road Dev Co is owned by hotel investors Frank Truman in partnership with Breithorn Developments and Legacy Hotels & Resorts.