Changes are on the way to modernise the main court in Reading, where the most serious cases are heard.
The Ministry of Justice is conducting works to improve the capacity, layout and ventilation at Reading Crown Court.
Adjustments to the modernisation project have recently been approved by Reading Borough Council.
Elsewhere, a closed charity shop is set to be converted into a takeaway restaurant, and a women’s fashion store which has been closed for years is due to be turned into a cafe.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Modernisation for Reading Crown Court (PL/26/0397)
Changes to the modernisation of the Crown Court at The Forbury have been approved.
The project involves adjustments to the entrance layout and the installation of metal louvres for ventilation.
Notably, the crest representing His Majesty’s government will be replaced.
Planning officer Marcelina Rejwerska’s report states: “The existing crest is in poor condition due to rusting of the back panel, and it is proposed to be replaced with a contour-shaped stainless steel panel with applied vinyl in black, utilising the existing support frame.”
Charity shop set for conversion into takeaway restaurant (PL/25/1589)
The Oxfam book shop near Market Place that has been closed since 2022 is set to be turned into a takeaway restaurant.
The building has heritage, with the shop being built in 1904 to designs by esteemed architect William Roland Howell.
The conversion project involves changes to the shopfront and extraction equipment being installed to the rear.
Planning officer Sian Hickey’s report states the applicant wanted to operate until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, which was reduced to 1am following negotiations. Closure will be at 11pm throughout the week.
Cafe taking over vacant fashion store (PL/26/0045)
A new cafe is due to open at the Whitley Street shopping area in Katesgrove according to an approved plan.
The Union Cafe House will be taking over the ‘New Fashion’ women’s clothing store, which has been vacant since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
A key feature of the cafe would be an awning, which would extend the footprint of the building when open.
Planning officer Nathalie Weekes judged the change to be acceptable.
Advertising for homes at Reading Link Retail Park refused (PL/26/0682)
A sign advertising new homes at Reading Link Retail Park has been rejected as a planning officer ruled that it would introduce more street clutter.
The advert was for the De Haviland Place development in White Waltham by Shanly Homes.
The refusal letter states: “The proposed sign, due to its excessive scale and prominent siting, would appear as an unattractive and obtrusive feature in the street scene and would contribute to an undesirable proliferation of signage and visual clutter at this location.”
