Flats above would-be Reading burger joint in plan roundup

This follows on from the owner of the building in Oxford Road in April withdrawing a similar application.

On the ground floor, the letting agent is set to be converted into a burger joint.

Elsewhere, an office building at an industrial estate is set to be demolished, and a landlord has applied to merge two homes together.

To view each application that makes up this roundup, type the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Legal certificate for flats above would-be burger joint rejected (230667 and 221861)

The floorplans at 109a Oxford Road, Reading approved in application 140959. Credit: The Keen Partnership

An application seeking a certificate to confirm the status of flats above a would-be burger joint has been rejected (reference 230667). 

This follows on from the owner of the building in Oxford Road in April withdrawing a similar application (reference 221821).

On the ground floor, the letting agent has planning permission to be converted into a burger joint and the owner has been trying to establish the lawful planning use of the first floor.

However, the council’s investigation found that the evidence provided was inconclusive and the situation observed on site (the upper floors were used as HMOs rather than as separate dwellings) meant that a certificate could not be granted. 

On the ground floor, permission has been granted to convert the Mr Sales & Letting Agents into a Fat Twins burger takeaway through application 201585.

Yet little work has taken place on the conversion, with the franchisees of Fat Twins busy running their location at Cemetery Junction.

It is also unclear what the certificate of lawfulness entails as well.

While the application states it is for one two-bed dwelling, floorplans appear to show one five-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats.

Update: A previous version of this article incorrectly implied the legal certificate had been granted. This was incorrect.  The most recent application for a certificate was refused.  

Brand new office and workshop for Whitley industrial estate (230250)

39 Boulton Road, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

Kersten UK, a garden machinery supplier, has applied to replace its current office and workshop with a brand new one at its hedquarters at 39 Boulton Road.

The existing two storey brick building would be replaced with a vehicle accessible workshop and office at two storeys tall.

Kersten’s planning agents HBDS said: “The current position is a building which doesn’t serve the required use particularly well, and also doesn’t lend itself well to a substantial overhaul.

“The applicant would like to pursue a scheme of redevelopment to provide

a replacement building which both enhances the regeneration of the industrial area whilst providing a building which is tailored to their requirements.”

Combination of two homes together (230541)

An application has been submitted to merge two homes in Westwood Glen, Tilehurst together.

The plan relates to a single building which appears to have been split into two addresses.

This application seeks a ‘re-merger’ into one home.

The site is currently the location of the Cook and Clark Christmas Trees business.

Replacement extension for Tilehurst home (230547)

The owners of 53 Cockney Hill, Tilehurst have applied to replace their existing rear extension with a new one.

The existing extension provides extra space for a playroom and a utility room.

The new extension would provide the occupants with a larger open plan kitchen and breakfast room, with the utlity room being relocated in space the kitchen currently occupies.