Update for Reading driving test centre plan for 16 flats

The demolition was approved on appeal by a government planning inspector earlier this year, with the driving vehicle standards agency set to vacate next Spring.

In the town centre, two restaurants have received updated looks, and details for an ongoing development for more than 50 flats next to a historic pub have been given the go-ahead.

You can view each application by typing the reference in brackets into Reading Borough Council's planning portal.

Correction made to plan to replace test centre with flats (PL/24/1015)

The refused plan for the Reading Driving Centre replacement, now allowed on appeal. Credit: Sawkings Harper Architects

A project to replace the Reading driving test centre at 220 Elgar Road South in Katesgrove with a building containing 16 flats is going ahead.

The decision was controversial as councillors refused the project, but it got approved on appeal to the government's planning inspectorate anyway.

The council has also been forced to pay the costs of the appeal.

READ MORE: More details emerge of how vital Reading driving test centre is as thousands pass their tests each year 

As something of a boon to the defeated council, the developer Maxika Homes must pay £12,500 as an open space contribution, more monetary contributions toward affordable housing and carbon off-setting, and devise an employment skills and training plan.

The latest development is that a minor error relating to a street scene drawing was rectified on September 20.

New look for Bella Italia (240820)

The new dark green branding for the Bella Italia restaurant at The Oracle Riverside in Reading. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

The new look for the Bella Italia restaurant at The Oracle Riverside has been approved.

The chain, owned by The Big Table Group, is undergoing a rebrand, with an advertising plan submitted to the council in July.

The old blue colour has been replaced with dark green. Although the change has already taken place, the plan was approved by the council on September 23.

Elsewhere at The Oracle, a new square advertising board showing a customer slurping up food has been installed at Wagamama.

Progress on 50 new flats next to historic pub (PL/23/0018)

CGIs of the plan to build 54 sustainable homes at 115 Chatham Street in Reading. Credit: DHA Architecture

Working is moving apace for the Abri housebuilder project to construct 54 apartments next to The Butler pub in Chatham Street.

The project involved the demolition of a warehouse and an office building. Both of these structures have been completely demolished.

One of the buildings that has now been completely demolished at 115 Chatham Street, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

Abri won approval for details of the hard and soft landscaping at the site on September 24.

Once completed, the flats will be contained within one new building, with 42 being made available to buy through shared ownership and 12 will be available through affordable rent, making it a 100 per cent affordable development.

Details for replacement Caversham home approved (PL/24/0760)

A CGI of the replacement home at Meadow View in Blagrave Lane, Caversham. Credit STL Architecture

Essential details for a project to replace a bungalow with a four-bedroom two-storey home in Caversham have been approved. 

Meadow View is a bungalow in Blagrave Lane on the verge of the Berkshire countryside.

Meadow View in Blagrave Lane, Caversham as it is currently. Credit: STL Architecture

The applicants won approval for it to be replaced with a larger home in September 2022.

Recently, the applicants also had details of energy efficiency and drainage designs for the new house approved.