An appeal has been lodged to save homes near a riverside pub in Reading as the council has ordered the building to be demolished.
Six people are currently living in a one-storey building containing six studio flats in Canal Way, just a short walk from the River Kennet Path and the Fisherman’s Cottage.
The building was completed in 2022 by Alex Gooch, the former owner of the Fisherman’s Cottage, prior to the pub being passed to new owners that year.
But his company is in trouble with Reading Borough Council, as the rooms were only approved on the condition that they would be ancillary to the use of the pub, serving as guest accommodation.
Mr Gooch has expressed fears that the council want him to demolish the building and make the existing tenants homeless.
He said: “My company owned the Fisherman’s Cottage from 2014 to 2022.
“We currently own the property at Canal Way, adjacent to the pub, comprising six studios rented to single working people, which the council now wants us to demolish!
“These units have provided much-needed furnished starter units at affordable rents (£750-950 per month).
“The rooms are fully serviced with underfloor heating, wifi, are well-located and sustainable with an air source heat pump, and all the modern, high-quality kitchen fittings needed today.
“The occupiers are very happy, there have been no complaints raised or council problems over the last three years.
“There is a housing crisis in Reading and the country.
“So it’s shocking to get an enforcement notice telling us to demolish these six rooms, as they are no longer ‘ancillary’ to the pub.
“The tenants do not want to leave and nobody wants another six homeless people needing council housing, surely?
“It seems the enforcement team are totally incoherent with Housing Policy.”
Mr Gooch has submitted an appeal against the enforcement action.
A council spokesperson reiterated that planning permission for the building was only as guest accommodation.
The spokesperson said: “The current use of this building for private accommodation is different to the planning permission which was approved in 2020, which was for six guest accommodation rooms as an ancillary building to the pub.
“We first contacted Mr Gooch in September 2024 on suspected breaches of planning control.
“A notice was issued in November 2025 following a detailed investigation, which required the remediation of planning breaches within a nine-month period.
“The building is still being used for private rental accommodation, however, which has resulted in enforcement action being followed through and a subsequent appeal by the owner, where he will have the opportunity to present his case to the inspector.
“The council awaits the findings of that appeal before deciding on next steps.”
You can view the progress of the appeal by typing reference APP/E0345/C/25/3377056 into the council’s planning portal.
Cigdem Atkins and her partner took over the pub as leaseholders in 2019, and ultimately bought the Fisherman’s Cottage in 2022.
