This week’s planning roundup of decisions made by Reading Borough Council (RBC) in the last seven days includes Nando’s, Barclays, a local florist, and new flats.

Nando’s delivery hatch approved

A Deliveroo hatch built at Reading’s town centre Nando’s on Friar Street without permission has been retrospectively approved by the council.

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The popular chicken chain has applied for retrospective permission for the access hatch window, which is used by Deliveroo riders to collect food for delivery.

The access hatch window was installed on the ground floor, eastern side, of the restaurant on April 12, with the plans submitted a month later on May 7.

Normally, applications should be made prior to carrying out changes to buildings. If the application had been rejected, Nandos would have had to reverse the works.

The plans also include refurbishment of the restaurant to “improve and revitalise the overall appearance of the exterior”.

The hatch will only be opened at the point of collection, which is pre-arranged between the restaurant and the third-party service (Deliveroo) making the collection.

It will not be used by individual customers collecting their orders. Customers will continue to be required to collect these from within the restaurant.

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: The hatchPICTURED: The hatch

In between collections, the access window will remain shut to ensure that any noise from within the restaurant is successfully contained.

First Plan, planning consultants for Nando’s said the installation of the hatch has significantly improved its day-to-day operations and “undoubtedly remains sympathetic to the existing appearance of the restaurant”.

Home florist delivery approved

The council has granted permission for a homeowner to use one of their rooms as a florist.

The florist previous ran The Flower shop, on Prospect Street in Caversham, but is now running online-only florist Flowers By Cherie.

Cherie Potter will use her Queensborough Drive address for the online business for deliveries from Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am-2pm.

There will be a maximum of two to three deliveries per week.

Club house above African restaurant to become flats

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: The site is above Avila ReadingPICTURED: The site is above Avila Reading

A club house on Oxford Road will be converted into two flats.

Plans were approved this week to convert 533 Oxford Road, which is above 535 Oxford Road, home to African restaurant Avila, into one two-bed and one three-bed flat.

Bank will become safety deposit store

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A vacant bank in Tilehurst will become a safety deposit store.

Plans were approved this week to turn the old Barclays bank at 1, The Triangle into a a high security store of rented safety deposit boxes.

The part of the bank that is being turned into a safety deposit store is the vaults.

The front section of the building will be used as a Costa Coffee shop, with plans for the café approved in June.