Progress is being made on a gym gearing up to open at a retail park in Reading, with a crucial planning hurdle recently being cleared. 

Elsewhere, B&Q, which is known for home, garden and DIY sales has added advertising and replaced some signage at its store.

And in the town centre, changes are planned at a shop that was affected by a fire at a neighbouring business.

You can view each application either approved or submitted by typing the reference into the council's planning portal.

JD Gym in Reading clears planning hurdle (PL/23/1077)

Floorplans and elevations for a proposed gym at Reading Link Retail Park. Credit: Sorbon EstatesFloorplans and elevations for a proposed gym at Reading Link Retail Park. Credit: Sorbon Estates

The JD Gym at the Reading Link Retail Park has moved a step closer to fruition as a crucial planning hurdle has been cleared.

The project involves building a 1,799 sqm gym, resulting in the loss of 47 parking spaces, leaving 264 spaces left, approved by councillors in June.

But in order for it to go ahead, JD had to sign a Section 106 legal agreement laying out financial contributions it will make to the council.

This includes a £8,455 contribution to education, skills and training in the borough.

The S106 agreement was signed on October 4, meaning the development can legally go ahead.

New signs for B&Q installed (PL/24/0471)

New signage at B&Q at the Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley.New signage at B&Q at the Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

Plans for new signs and advertising at the B&Q at the Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley have been approved.

One of the new signs above the big box store encourages people to shop online with a 'shop day or night at diy.com' sign above the main entrance.

The advertising plan was submitted in April, but by the time planning officer James Schofield visited the site on August 19, the changes had already been made.

Ultimately, Mr Schofield concluded the changes met advertising standards, with approval being granted on October 4.

Changes to shopfront at store affected by fire (PL/24/1071)

Shops along Friar Street in Reading. A plan has been submitted for shopfront changes at 133 Friar Street.Shops along Friar Street in Reading. A plan has been submitted for shopfront changes at 133 Friar Street. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

The owner of a building in Friar Street that was affected by a fire has applied to make shopfront changes to increase fire safety.

The building, 133 Friar Street, was occupied by the Mystic Tattoo Lounge, which had to vacate the premises after a fire at neighbouring C Mart in May 2023.

READ MORE: Reading oriental food store to reopen in town centre location a year after huge fire

Changes involve adding a new door and glazed window panels to the shop unit.

The unit is currently vacant, with Mystic Tattoo Lounge maintaining sites in Queen Victoria Street and Woodley.

Works to Catholic private school building (PL/24/0590)

St Joseph's College co-educational private day school in Upper Redlands Road, East Reading.St Joseph's College co-educational private day school in Upper Redlands Road, East Reading. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

The estate bursar of St Joseph's College in Upper Redlands Road has applied to replace windows and make changes to the roof of one of its buildings. 

According to a submitted document, the building in question, Block B1, 'urgently' requires replacement windows and roof tiles. 

A planning agent stated that some roof tiles are cracked, broken and missing. 

As well as installing new tiles, the school wants to add solar panels to Block B1 to provide a renewable source of energy.