TWO READING buildings that were used as offices are to be demolished and replaced with an industrial unit, rather than once-mooted flats.
Bennet Court in Bennet Road, Whitley comprises two buildings occupied by Press to Print Reading, computer consultants Black Box, and workspace designers Aura. The Cowshed charity had a unit but has moved to Mulberry Business Park in Wokingham.
Two years ago, developers won approval to convert the site into 49 flats: 27 apartments in one building and 22 in the other.
The site has since changed ownership and new developers DV5 Coltham Investments winning permission to replace both offices from Reading Borough Council’s planning committee.
At a meeting held on Wednesday, September 6, Cllr Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning and assets said: “Here we’ve got a core employment light industrial area of high employment with lots of locals working down there.
“We’ve got a fantastic new facility going up there and, of course, it’s now not going to be residential, which is a bonus for me.”
The approved application can be seen by typing reference 221936 into the council’s planning website.
