A digital screen at a fuel station in Reading has been approved despite fears that it would distract drivers.
The advertising screen can now be installed at the Shell Londis in Shinfield Road.
Elsewhere, a plan to convert storage units for new usage at an industrial unit has been approved.
Also, the wife of cllr David McElroy (Green, Redlands) has won permission to make changes to the master bedroom of their home.
The result of the appeal and the decisions were made at the last meeting of Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Digital advert screen approved on appeal (PL/25/0221)
A digital screen is set to be installed outside the Shell Londis in Shinfield Road despite the council rejecting it, arguing it would cause a distraction to drivers.
The plan was approved on appeal to the government’s planning inspectorate, with the result being reported to councillors by planning officer Richard Eatough.
He explained that these advertising plans can only be considered on the grounds of highway safety and impact on visual amenity.
The appeal inspector ruled that it would not be a distraction to drivers, as the current limit is 20mph, with there being lots of advertising for other businesses in Shinfield Road. The plan was therefore allowed last month.
Change of use from storage to industrial units approved (PL/25/0435)
A plan has been approved to convert three storage units at 146 Cardiff Road into research and development and light industrial units.
The plan was submitted by the BBC Pension Trust, which owns the building.
During the meeting, planning officer Matthew Harding told councillors that a condition requiring an employment skills plan to be produced would not be pursued.
Cllr Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) queried why the condition for the skills plan had been removed, with Mr Harding replying that it is unclear what companies will occupy the building, therefore the skills plan could not be determined at that stage.
As well as the new usage of the units, there will be changes to the car park to provide three disabled spaces, four electric vehicle charging spaces, with capacity for two more charging spaces in the future.
Changes to master bedroom at councillor’s home (PL/25/0197)
Keturah McElroy, the wife of cllr McElroy has won permission to enlarge the master bedroom at their home in Brookmill, Coley.
The project involves knocking down a partition wall and turning the ensuite bathroom into more space for the bedroom.
The house is Grade II listed as it dates back to the 1600s. Ultimately, it was judged that the removal of the wall would not harm the historic value of the building.
