A closed club in Reading could be knocked down for good if a plan is given the go-ahead this week.
The Curzon Club in Oxford Road was previously a members-only club with two bars, a dance floor and living accommodation on the first and second floors.
It has been empty since 2020, due to declining membership and the need for significant repair works.
It was put up for sale for £695,000 in December of that year, and if a plan for the site is approved, the building could be gone for good.
Developers City Wide Serviced Apartments want to replace it with a new six-storey building containing 17 two-bedroom and 13 one-bedroom flats.
Of those, five one-bed and five two-bed apartments would be designated affordable – 30% of the proposed development.
The new building would also contain a retail unit at ground level, with 15 residential car parking spaces, with one of those being a disabled space and two electric vehicle charging points would be provided. There would also be a bike store.
The plan is an outline application, with the landscaping associated with the building project being reserved matters: developers will submit another application for this.
The building is not protected in the national or local list, and a plan allowing for its demolition was approved in February.
Council planning officers recommend the scheme be approved subject to a legal agreement being reached between the developer and the council.
“The proposal would provide 30 residential units, with a policy compliant affordable housing offer, which carries significant weight, as well as a retail unit within a district entre and a well-designed building which would complement the character and appearance of the area,” they said.
Officers acknowledged the loss of the club as a hireable venue, but there are several other places nearby that fulfil that role, including the Oxford Road Community Centre, the White Eagle and Royal Albion pubs, places of worship, and function space in Battle Library.
They concluded: “Given the significant benefits of the proposal, most notably the provision of high-quality housing and a policy compliant Affordable Housing offer, it is considered that the proposals would, on balance, be acceptable.”
The application will be determined at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, November 1.
For more details, or to see the plans, log on to Reading Borough Council’s planning website and search for application 221345.
