THIS week’s planning roundup of decisions in Reading includes a burger restaurant, garages as part of a controversial development, flats and an unauthorised car wash.
Flats plan approved at unauthorised car wash
The site, currently being used as a car wash
An apartment block of three flats will be built at a site that has been used as a car wash without permission, causing neighbours to complain of “relentless noise”.
Plans were approved this week to turn the land at 20a Norcot Road into one one-bed flat and two two-bed flats.
The former car sales building which was used for the unauthorised car wash will be demolished as part of the plans.
Decision on burger restaurant delayed again
The vacant estate agents which could become a burger restaurant
Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee deferred a decision on plans for a Fat Twins burger restaurant/takeaway on Oxford Road for a second time on Wednesday evening.
Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Planning, raised concerns the council had “dropped the ball” by not including this part of Oxford Road in any policies providing protection from over-proliferation of one type of shop.
He said the area “appears to be a no-mans land, apparently unprotected by any of other policies regarding retail uses and mix” and asked officers to investigate.
READ MORE: Lack of policy could force council to approve Oxford Road burger joint
Planning appeal refused
Plans to demolish a house and its detached garage and build a new building with three townhouses and two flats in its place have been rejected again.
Agreeing with the council’s decision, the planning inspector said the development at 4 Downshire Square, in west Reading, would:
- Fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation Area
- Cause unacceptable harm to the character of the area through the loss of the street tree
- Fail to provide adequate car parking associated
- Fail to contribute to the affordable housing needs of the borough
Two other planning appeals were rejected this week, a two-storey side and rear extension to create two extra flats at 3 Modbury Gardens, Whitley, and plans to extend a house at 17 Mount Pleasant and convert it into two flats.
Garage plan approved as part of controversial development
The controversial Wensley Road plans
Thirteen garages will be demolished and replaced with another 25, as part of plans for the development of 46 homes in Coley.
READ MORE: Controversial 46-home plan approved by Reading councillors
The 13 vacant garages behind 72 Wensley Road will be demolished and replaced by 17 new garages, while ten parking bays will be removed and replaced with 11 new ones.
And at land behind 51 to 65 Wensley Road, eight garages and four parking bays will be created.
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