Plans are moving forward for a defunct building to be brought back into use as an entertainment venue by the owners of Reading’s most famous bar.
There have long been plans for the Purple Turtle in Gun Street to expand into the property next door, to create a café at the front, with an entertainment venue and new performance space to the rear.
Required details of the project have recently been approved by Reading Borough Council.
Elsewhere in the town centre, extraction equipment will be installed at a long-closed building for use as an Italian restaurant, and a gym is set to relocate.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Plans finally moving forward for Purple Turtle expansion (PL/25/1502)
Progress is finally being made on the project to expand the Purple Turtle into the building next to it.
The transformation of the building in Gun Street involves the creation of a cafe or restaurant and new performance space, along with a ‘backstage’ area for performers.
The latest iteration of the project was approved in February last year.
The council approved details of the external and internal works that need to be undertaken on July 10.
Kitchen extraction for upcoming Italian restaurant (PL/26/0411)
Plans have been approved for kitchen extraction and air conditioning units for an upcoming Italian restaurant at the Bristol & West Arcade.
Luftar Rusta, the owner of the Tasty Greek Souvlaki business, has plans to create a new restaurant at the building in Market Place that has been vacant for 19 years.
In preparation for that, he has won permission to install kitchen extraction ductwork, a fresh air system and toilet extraction to the rear of the building using louvre grills and two air conditioning condenser units.
There are hopes that the Italian restaurant will open later this year.
Gym set for relocation in Broad Street Mall (PL/26/0546)
The Gym Group is set to relocate into new facilities in the Broad Street Mall.
The gym operates 24/7 and currently occupies a unit that faces St Mary’s Butts.
It is due to relocate to a unit facing Oxford Road.
Like its existing facility, the majority of the gym’s floorspace will be located on the first floor of the mall.
Conversion of East Reading house into children’s home rejected (PL/26/0114)
A plan to convert a five-bedroom house near Cemetery Junction into a children’s home has been refused.
The property is located in Eastern Avenue, with the applicant submitting a plan to turn it into a care home for up to three children aged between five and 16.
However, planning officer Catrin Davies judged that, while in principle the conversion would be acceptable, its use would result in a cramped appearance out of keeping with the character of the area.
The project was rejected on July 8.
