A plan to build flats next to a ‘clock house’ building in Reading is to go to an appeal.
Titan Property Development wants to build 14 flats in a new apartment building on Kings Road.
The site has been vacant for years, previously serving as a car park for the 300 Kings Road office building. It is next to the ITS Construction offices, which has a distinctive shape.
It was sealed off when the offices were converted into luxury apartments in 2018.
Under the proposals, a five-storey apartment block would be constructed, comprising seven one-bed, five two-bed and two three-bed flats.
Titan Property produced an economic viability assessment to demonstrate affordable homes would be undeliverable.
Reading Borough Council’s planning department rejected the proposals in September last year, as the proposed development failed to make an appropriate contribution towards affordable housing in the town.
Developments of 10 or more homes in Reading must have 30% of the homes designated as affordable according to the council’s housing policy.
The department also felt the proposal ‘over-provided’ one-bed flats and ‘under-provided’ three-bed flats, therefore not meeting the housing needs of the borough.
Titan Property has appealed to the government’s planning inspectorate
Separately, a plan to convert the ITS building into three flats: one one-bed and two two-bed, using permitted development rights that allow offices to be converted into housing.
The council has refused, saying the requirements for permitted development had not been met, which requires evidence that the building has been vacant for a continuous period of at least three months before the conversion application is submitted.
To view the application that has gone to appeal search for reference 221162 on Reading Borough Council’s planning website, and reference APP/E0345/W/23/3335887 on the planning inspectorate website.
The refused application for the ITS building can be seen by searching for reference 230042 in the council’s planning portal.
