A plan to convert historic terraced homes into even more flats at a prominent location in Reading has been refused.
A company called Agaram Properties owns 27-33 Christchurch Road in Katesgrove, which is made up of one house and nine flats split across the rest of the building.
The terrace is Grade II listed as it was built circa 1840 and has been judged to be of architectural merit owing to its facade and brick period features.
The building has four entrances, with the house being located at 29 Christchurch Road, and the remaining three addresses being divided into flats.
Agaram Properties had applied to make improvements and rear extensions to provide more space for a total of 12 flats.
A planning agent from Bluebird Design argued the existing terraced houses have been converted into ‘nine ill-proportioned one and two-bedroomed flats’.
However, the project was refused by Reading Borough Council’s planning department in February last year.
Planning officer Ethne Humphreys judged that the proposed two-storey rear extensions to create more space would be inappropriate and not fit in with the architectural style of the area.
Agaram Properties appealed against this decision to the government’s planning inspectorate.
A planning agent from Momentum stated the project would provide a series of benefits, restoring the Grade II listed building and increasing the amount and quality of flats provided.
But the appointed inspector A Tucker sided with the council, arguing internal and external modifications would significantly erode the fabric and historic layout of the building, and harm both its character and the Christchurch Road conservation area as a whole.
The dismissal of the appeal was featured in a report to the council’s planning applications committee meeting on Wednesday, February 5.
Councillor Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) said: “This is a very very important Grade II listed building and terrace in the Christchurch Road conservation area, I’m really really pleased to see this.
“Protecting Reading, keeping Reading Reading is just so important and begins with paying attention to our heritage.
“This is a terrace we all know, we know well, we all drive past it, on and on.
“Developers and owners need to think when they own a listed building of the value of that building, and not just looking at that as an opportunity to expand and cram flats into it, and actually remember that they are the keepers of our heritage.
“That was resoundingly proven out here.
“Developers and owners need to be very aware of what they have and their first priority actually is to protect that heritage.”
You can view the refused applications by typing references PL/22/1806 and PL/22/1807 into the council’s planning portal.
