Hundreds of new flats could be approved in Reading town centre at a major planning meeting next week.
The biggest plan due to be decided is the application to add 644 flats to Broad Street Mall.
Not far away, a decision is also due on the project to replace offices that used to house the probation service with hundreds of ‘co-living’ flats.
A verdict on these plans is set to be made at the Reading Borough Council planning applications committee meeting on Wednesday, April 2.
If both are given the go-ahead, 910 new apartments will be added to the town centre.
You can view each application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Broad Street Mall flats development (PL/24/0173)
The massive plan to add flats to Broad Street Mall could be given the go-ahead.
The project involves the part demolition of the rear of the mall, including part of the car park, to make way for four blocks containing 644 flats.
Of those, 65 (10 per cent) would be designated affordable, made up of seven three-bed, 31 two-bed and 27 one-bed units.
The demolition would result in the loss of eight retail and restaurant units, with 294 car parking spaces being lost as well, leaving 426 spaces.
Former probation office replacement with ‘co-living’ flats (PL/24/1501)
The Elder Developments company will be learning whether its plan to replace a former probation office with ‘co-living’ flats will be given the go-ahead.
The project involves demolishing Greyfriars House in Greyfriars Road and replacing it with 266 ‘co-living’ apartments.
The building was previously occupied by Ministry of Justice workers.
The replacement tower block would be 13 storeys tall and contain 23 wheelchair-accessible rooms, and shared facilities such as a kitchen, cafe, games room and gym.
The plan has been recommended for approval subject to a legal agreement with the council, which would involve a total of £3.566 million payment to off-site affordable housing.
Extension for council house (PL/25/0093)
The council’s property services department has applied to conduct renovations and add a rear extension to a house in Lyndhurst Road, Tilehurst.
The proposed rear extension would house the kitchen, converting the current kitchen space into utility space and a washroom.
The existing three-bed home is in a terrace of four houses, with the project being undertaken in phase 4 of the council’s estate improvement programme.
Shire Hall demolition and redevelopment welcomed (PL/25/0314/ADJ)
Council officers have given their verdict on the project to replace Shire Hall in Shinfield Park with five new industrial buildings creating a general industry business park.
Shire Hall used to serve as the offices of Berkshire County Council, and has been vacant since last summer.
Planning officer Richard Eatough’s report states the redevelopment is acceptable in terms of traffic and employment.
A decision on the project will be made by Wokingham Borough Council, which has been advised to investigate crash data at the nearby Shinfield Arms roundabout.
