PLANS to transform an arcade in Reading town center have been withdrawn.
Developers Sonic Star Properties applied to transform the Bristol & West Arcade in Friar Street into a 182 bed, eight-storey hotel with its own restaurant, as well as restoring The Coopers Arms pub in Market Place.
Despite the plans’ approval by Reading Borough Council, developers withdrew proposals on Tuesday, August 2.
Complications in the plans surfaced in May when separate developers Mountley LTD applied to convert the upper floors of the arcade into apartments.
Elements of the plans also received objections, such as resident Paul Windley, who argued that it would lead to the “needless destruction of the neo-Georgian façade.”
Evelyn Williams, chairwoman of the Conservation Area Advisory Committee, also raised “serious concerns” over the design, stating its “big and white” modern frontage would “leap out” at people.
Plans to continue the development of the Coopers Arms pub, also part of the the original proposal, have now been put forward for application by Watercrown Bracknell Ltd in July.
Current plans for the Bristol and West Arcade site at 173-174 Friar Street and nearby 29-31 Market Place can be viewed on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.The plans for the Cooper’s Arms site, 29-31 Market Place, can be found with application references 220545 and 220546, plans for 175 Friar Street with application number 220577, and for 173-174 Friar Street with application number 220579.
