A plan to build flats right behind a historic pub and music venue in Reading has been defeated.
Development company Hamble Residential were hoping to build 15 flats contained in one building to replace the 10 Eaton Place office building.
The flats would have been located directly to the rear of The Butler in Chatham Street, a Grade II listed pub that dates back to 1830.
But the project faced opposition from neighbours and Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee, which rejected it last year.
Hamble Residential launched an appeal to the Government planning inspectorate to get the project approved.
Shortly after the appeal was launched, 2,352 people signed a petition for it to be rejected, with the appeal being dismissed.
Giving his verdict, planning inspector Benjamin Webb judged that the development would provide ‘unacceptable’ living conditions, with the developer failing to demonstrate how the fats would be compatible with The Butler pub.
Celebrating the news on Facebook, Steve Stanton, one of the owners said: “The appeal by our adjacent neighbour for permission to grant planning for a five-storey block of flats has been resoundingly defeated.
“A huge thank you goes to all who were directly or indirectly involved, including those who simply signed the petition. Keep music live.”
The news was also welcomed by councillor Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey), who attended the appeal hearing.
Cllr Rowland said: “I along with my Abbey ward Councillor colleagues, are delighted with the inspectors ruling, which could have threatened the Butler pub and live music venue.
“With a robust petition to protect the venue and our united passion for this jewel in our town, there is no doubt that we were all thrilled with the Inspectors’ ruling.
“The inspector cited very clearly the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF) ‘agent of change’ ruling which requires any new site to ensure that existing sites should not be subject to undue complaints in this case with noise, that might threaten their existence.
“The Inspector could not see a way forward for the site as it was built to not subject The Butler in the future to such complaints.
“Additionally, he cited the value of The Butler as a listed building and heritage site and that the proposed development would not enhance and would likely detract from the significance of the pub.
“Whilst the Local Plan still sets this land out as a site for future development, it is clear that any proposal that comes forward will have to do considerable work to ensure that The Butler is allowed to exist and the site to be enhanced from anything that could be built next to it.
“In this case, the developer failed to properly take on board the value of the Butler and to understand its importance to this town’s heritage and its cultural enjoyment.
“I am pleased that the ‘agent of change’ ruling exists, and I would hope that residents and future developers realise that we will utilise the power of that ruling h to protect what Reading holds dear.”
The decision was made on October 11.
You can view the refused application by typing reference 201104 into the council’s planning portal.
