A PROPOSAL to replace an east Reading hotel with two apartment blocks containing 14 homes has been rejected.
The Tower House Hotel on Wokingham Road would have been demolished under the plans, which was turned down by Reading Borough Council’s planning department.
A plan to replace a hotel with views of one of Reading’s parks with 14 homes has been shot down by decision-makers.
If approved, the development would have involved the construction of two buildings: one four-storey building with eight flats and one three-storey building containing six flats.
Officers felt there would be some benefit, such as the provision of the apartments to assist with the borough’s housing targets.
But they concluded: “There are shortfalls, such as the proposed scale, massing and detailed design deficiencies which results in the proposals being harmful to the character and appearance of the area.
“In addition, there are significant concerns over the impact on the living accommodation of existing nearby occupiers.”
This is reference to neighbours in College Road, who felt the new homes would be able to see into their properties.
James Crosbie, the council’s assistant director of planning, wrote in a refusal letter the new buildings would be a “cramped overdevelopment” of the site which would harm the amenity of 1 College Road located nearby.
He also criticised the housing mix. The new buildings would have provided four one-bed, six two-bed and three three-bedroom apartments – it was felt the plan failed to provide enough three-bedroom flats.
The rejection of the plan means the 33-room hotel will remain, for now.
The developer was served with a refusal letter on Friday, January 6. He has the right to appeal the decision within 28 days of its issue.
The application can be seen on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal, reference 211714.
