Reading music charity submits plans for its headquarters

Readipop is the town’s prime music charity, credited for helping musicians launch their careers and hosting a festival in Caversham each July.

Now, the charity has applied to expand its office building.

Elsewhere, an An old day care centre off London Road in East Reading will remain out of use as a plan to bring it into use has been withdrawn.

In West Reading, an estate agents has been converted into six homes in a handy location next to a supermarket and a fast food chain.

Music charity plan to expand base of operations (221671)

Readipop has applied for extensive works to its headquarters at 15 Trafford Road.

Inside, the charity wants to make space for additional and larger music studios, a kitchen and provide an accessible lift.

Planned changes to the roof at the Readipop headquarters, 15 Trafford Road, Reading. Credit: Grays Baynes Shew

Outside, it wants to add a balcony and a pergola for shade in the summer, provide improved escape routes and its designated car park with a disabled bay.

Additionally, it wants to add solar panels to the existing roof and a green roof to a proposed rear extension.

Plan for old day care centre shelved (212086)

2 Alexandra Road Reading. Credit: Google Maps

The old day care centre at 2 Alexandra Road will continue to be unused as a plan to turn it into a children’s care home has been shelved.

The building has been closed since late 2019 and used to serve as a day Centre for adults with learning difficulties and autism, with four bedrooms for respite care.

The care centre operators Quality Care Providers had achieved a three star food hygiene rating in September 2019.

But the plan to make modifications to provide 10 bedrooms for children was withdrawn by the applicants Sustainable Design & Energy Consultants on March 14.

Conversion of estate agents into homes approved (211425)

A comparison of what 303 Oxford Road, Reading looked like in 2019-2021. Credit: Google Maps

The conversion of an old estate agents into six homes was approved on March 16.

The building, 303 Oxford Road, used to be occupied by the Patrick Williams Estate Agents seen in Google Map imagery from 2019.

However,  Patrick Williams has since moved to 209 Halls Road in Tilehurst.

The approved plan for changes at 303 Oxford Road, Reading to provide six homes. Credit: Hives Architects

Now, the council’s planning department has approved its conversion into six flats, with four one-bedroom flats being located on the ground floor, and two three-bedroom flats stretching across the first and second floors.

A rear extension provides more space.

The building is situated in a convenient location right next to Lidl and the McDonald’s in Oxford Road.

Changes to Oxford Road shop approved (230014 and 230015)

The Red Carpet hair salon in Oxford Road can go ahead with a new shopfront.

The salon currently has a mix of red boarding, timber and a black painted front.

The owner applied for it to be changed to a new red uniform timber frontage, as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone to ‘unlock the potential’ of high streets throughout the country.

The project was split into two applications, references 230014 and 230015, both of which were approved on March 17.