Construction at the main theatre in Reading is providing benefits to residents while the work takes place.
The building project to upgrade The Hexagon Theatre began in June last year, and is likely to take 11 more months to complete.
The contractor has recently agreed details of how it will help people in Reading with employment and building skills.
That is just one of the planning updates from Reading Borough Council recently.
Elsewhere, Thames Water has won permission for a new operational controls building at its Treatment Works, and a car centre could be expanding.
You can view each application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Social benefits of Hexagon upgrade works (PL/25/0836)
The Hexagon Theatre in Queens Walk is currently in the process of a £15 million upgrade.
Feltham Construction, the contractor which is conducting building works, agreed an Education and Skills Plan (ESP) with the council on June 22.
The plan lays out opportunities for employment and training for Reading residents while work continues, with the project due to complete in May 2027.
Measures in the ESP include using apprentices in Reading, along with opportunities for work shadowing for foreman and document control workers.
New operational control building at sewage works (PL/26/0373)
Thames Water has won permission to build a new two-storey operational control building at its sewage treatment works in Island Road.
The building has been justified to support increased monitoring demands from the water regulator OFWAT.
Planning Jonathan Markwell, while lamenting the lack of on-site landscaping and impact on trees, judged that the facility would be an appropriate use of the land.
Once complete, the control facility will have a peak operational occupancy of 23 staff.
Changes planned at tyre shop and MOT site (PL/26/0659)
The National Tyres and Autocare in Katesgrove is temporarily closed while upgrade works take place.
The facility in Basingstoke Road, which is run by Halfords, is due to reopen next month.
The company has applied to raise the height of an existing roller shutter to enable a new MOT lane to be installed.
To enable this, a new brickwork-encased steel column is proposed in the centre of the roller shutter opening.
Works to girls’ school building approved (PL/26/0344)
Changes to a building at Reading Abbey girls secondary school in Kendrick Road have been approved.
Richards Hall is a two-storey building located next to the sports pitches, and is used for examinations, school activities and functions.
The School applied to install a new wheelchair accessible ramp and to reduce the amount of glazing on its external elevations to reduce internal overheating.
Planning officer Nathalie Weekes concluded that the changes would be improvements for users, so the application was approved
