Reading changes to plans for 38 flats and 4 homes submitted

The owner of the old Sardar Palace restaurant at Cemetery Junction has resubmitted a plan for the conversion of the basement into six flats.

Meanwhile, the developers who won permission to knock down a pub have submitted drainage details for its plan to build 38 student apartments, and a developer has applied for changes to four homes that have been built in Tilehurst.

You can view each application by typing its reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Confirmation of six apartments at former restaurant (230070)

Sardar Palace 149 London Road, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

Bharminder Bhathal, the owner of the former Sardar Palace building at 149 London Road has applied again for a certificate of lawfulness acknowledging the conversion of the basement of the building into six studio apartments.

The council’s planning department refused to grant the certificate in November last year.

Bell Cornwell, the planning agents for Mr Bhathal have submitted a letter defining the history of the building, stating that the Sardar Palace Indian restaurant closed in 2010.

Floorplan for six the studio apartments in the basement of Sardar Palace in London Road, Reading. Credit: Bell Cornwell

According to the letter, the six apartments were occupied by legal immigrants from the Indian Subcontinent who worked at the restaurant and continued to live there after it had closed.

It argues Mr Bhathal simply wants to confirm the use of these apartments as living accommodation.

Changes to four new homes in Tilehurst (230026)

Construction well underway to build retail space and four apartments on a grassy patch next to 114-116 School Road in Tilehurst. Credit: UGC

A new building containing four apartments shot up on unused land next to the Mad Hatters Pottery and Painting Cafe in School Road, Tilehurst, late last year.

Now, builders Chester Place Ltd have applied to increase the number of parking bays from two to three, relocation of the front door to the apartments, remove the stall risers to the retail unit, and make changes to the roof.

Conditions complied with for pub’s replacement with 38 student flats (230048)

The Woodley Arms pre demolition

Here, the applicant Lainston Woodley Arms LLP has submitted details for the surface water and foul water drainage scheme for its plan to knock down the Woodley Arms in Waldeck Street and replace it with two buildings totalling 38 student flats.

The plan was refused by Reading Borough Council but allowed on appeal to the planning inspectorate in October 2018.

Google Map aerial imagery shows that the pub building has been demolished.

Fresh 5G mast plan in Caversham (230071)

The junction of Caversham Park Road and Northbrook Road in Caversham, a proposed 5G mast site. Credit: Google Maps

CK Hutchison, which owns Three mobile, has applied to install a 20-metre 5G mast at the junction of Caversham Park Road and Northbrook Road in Caversham.

An elevation submitted with the plan shows a 17-metre tree and two lamp posts which are eight metres tall.

The nearest buildings in Holyrood Close are approximately six metres high.

Replacement sign for town centre business (230076)

The Kall Kwik professional printing business at 32 St Mary’s Butts has applied for new signage.

The current blue lettering on a white background would be replaced with white lettering on a blue background.

The business also wants to install a hanging sign.