Changes are coming for McDonald’s at one of the retail parks in Reading.
The McDonald’s at Reading Gate Retail Park is set to get a new look following the approval of an advertising plan.
That is just one of the plans that have been approved by Reading Borough Council recently.
Elsewhere, a pizza takeaway is set to be created between a pharmacy and a post office, and wiring to facilitate broadband for a historic site dating back to the 1600s has been approved.
You can view each decided application featured by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Fresh signs for McDonald’s at retail park (PL/26/0902)
Fresh signage is set to be installed for the McDonald’s at Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley.
The chain has won permission to install two new illuminated golden ‘M’ signs on the building.
One of these will be above the existing entrance for dine-in customers, with the other being installed on the elevation for the drive-thru payment hatch.
Planning officer Sian Hickey judged that the signs would not distract drivers, so the application was therefore approved on September 15.
Conversion of part of pharmacy and post office into takeaway (PL/26/0212)
A new pizza takeaway is set to come to Oxford Road following the closure of a discount store several years ago.
The Oxford Road Pharmacy acquired the neighbouring building 266-268 Oxford Road following the closure of the West Reading Pound Plus store.
A post office opened there in July 2024, with the building owner applying to convert the unit next door into a pizza takeaway.
The conversion was approved on September 18, subject to ventilation equipment being installed and with opening hours of 11am to 10pm each day.
Wiring for internet at historic building approved (PL/26/0980)
Wiring to provide internet at Southcote Lodge has been approved.
The site is a Grade II listed property with the first buildings erected shortly before 1611.
Southcote Lodge is now a managed retirement complex of individual homes.
Because of this, external and internal works had to be assessed to determine the impacts on the host buildings.
Changes to housing that replace unused scrap yard rejected (PL/26/0962)
Changes to new homes that replace the Architectural Salvage Yard have been rejected.
Construction is under way on a two-bed house and four one-bed flats at the site in Pell Street, which is in walking distance from the town centre, near its busy junction with Southampton Street and Crown Street.
The developer had applied to include two rear dormers with windows to provide ensuites to the second floor flats.
However, planning officer Ethne Humphreys judged the change to be unneighbourly, and it was therefore rejected on September 21.
