Progress made for 418 flats near Reading town centre

Much of the Foundry Quarter development in Weldale Street is complete, with developers recently winning approval to reconfigure space for a shop, restaurant or cafe and add cycle parking spaces.

Meanwhile, the owners of an office block have submitted details of the demolition for their project to replace the office with a shiny new industrial unit.

READ MORE: Flats reduced at development on former Iceland and Wickes site near town centre

Elsewhere, a landlord has applied to convert a terraced house into serviced accommodation, and the owners of a riverside restaurant have applied to make improvements to its outdoors area.

You can view each plan featured by typing the reference number in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Changes approved at Foundry Quarter (231813)

A comparison of the ground floor changes for Block B of the Foundry Quarter development in Weldale Street, Reading. Credit: AWW Inspired Environments

The developer Ropemaker Properties has won approval for changes to its 418-apartment Foundry Quarter project.

The changes involve reconfiguration of the ground floors of the rearmost buildings in the development, replacing an estate management room with approximately 23 cycle parking spaces.

Meanwhile, ground floor changes to one of the blocks removes a reception and commercial space in favour of a cafe, media and games room.

These changes apply to Block B of the development, located closest to Weldale Street.

Details of demolition for Whitley offices submitted (240150)

Bennet Court in Bennet Road, Reading as it is currently. Credit: Coltham / Delancey

The details of the demolition project for the Bennet Court offices in Whitley have been submitted.

A project to replace Bennet Court with a large new industrial unit was approved by the council’s planning applications committee last September.

A CGI for the Bennet Court replacement building in Bennet Road, Reading. Credit: bhp design

It was approved on the condition that developers DV5 Coltham submit details of the demolition project, landscaping and the materials used for the construction of the replacement building.

These details have now been submitted, with the demolition project set to take 10 weeks.

Outdoor seating and area for riverside restaurant (240022)

Persian Palace at Bridge Street, Caversham. Credit: Google Maps

The owners of the Persian Palace restaurant in Bridge Street, Caversham have applied to create an outdoor seating terrace with a canopy to give people shelter.

The space is currently taken up with a steel frame. Persian Palace wants to create a secure ‘sheesha terrace’ which would have 12 tables and access to the restaurant.

Persian Palace has been trading since at least 2019, taking over from the former Pimilico restaurant and riverbank nightclub after a long vacancy.

Plan to convert terraced house into serviced accommodation (240045)

Terraced homes in Oxford Road, Reading. An owner has applied to convert one of the homes into serviced accommodation. Credit: Google Maps

The owner of a terraced house in Oxford Road has applied to convert it into serviced accommodation.

The existing two-bedroom home is located near Brock Barracks.

The bedrooms would be used for people who are staying in Reading on a short-term basis, who would be able to make use of a separate kitchen and living room and bath which are all on the ground floor.