In this week’s planning roundup we look at the most interesting decisions approved in the last week, as well as a big upcoming week of planning decisions.

Rejected apartment plan

A plan to turn a vacant office in Caversham into an apartment has been rejected by the council.

The prior approval application to turn the former office at 30 Church Street into a one-bed flat was rejected due to concerns over a bulky extension.

The plan sought to turn the first floor office into an apartment, while also extending the second floor at the back of the property to allow for more room.

READ MORE: Fish and chip takeaway plan at long-vacant shop

Currently, a two-bed flat occupies the second floor and part of the first floor, but the plans would have seen both floors become one-bed flats.

But planning officer Tom Hughes said the proposed bulky extension to the second floor would detract from the appearance of the building.

And he said the extension goes beyond the scope of a prior approval application, with the second floor extension having little direct benefit on the first floor.

He also said the loss of the A2 office use had not been justified.

House will get extra floor

A house in east Reading will get an extra storey, after the council approved plans to add an extra bedroom on a new floor.

The semi-detached property on Carnarvon Road has a lower roof height compared to neighbouring properties and is overly dominated by the adjoining neighbour, according to council officers.

The current property is 1.5 storeys in height. The development will see the erection of an additional storey, which will have two bedrooms.

There will be a net gain of one bedroom, with two of the bedrooms on the floor below being combined into one.

Case officer James Overall said the additional storey is within a scale and scope that avoids the creation of a sense of overbearing or result in any loss of light to either neighbouring properties or the house itself.

And finally…

In other planning news, there is a Planning Applications committee next Wednesday, where six planning applications will be decided on.

These includes plans for phase two and three of the huge Station Hill development, the council’s own proposal to turn the old Arthur Hill swimming pool into key worker flats, a new look for Reading West Station and plans for 26 flats at an ‘eyesore’ empty site.

READ MORE: Council to vote on flats plan at 'eyesore' former Battle Hospital site

There is also a controversial application to expand a school’s facilities and final approval needed for the for huge tower blocks on top of Broad Street Mall, with just the last details regarding the landscaping of the car park to be agreed.