A plan to convert a fish and chip shop into a family home in Reading has been rejected.
The 555 Fish Bar in West Reading has operated for years, with a plan by the current owner to convert it into a home being shot down.
That is just one of the plans that have been decided by Reading Borough Council recently.
Not far away, a plan for semi-detached homes was rejected, and a lodge for an independent school in the town has been approved.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Creation of home at fish and chip shop refused (PL/26/0202)
A plan to convert The 555 Fish Bar in Oxford Road into a five-bedroom home has been rejected.
The development would have created space for the home by replacing an existing side extension with a new one.
Planning officer Catrin Davies rejected the scheme for two main reasons. First, the loss of the takeaway at the ground floor would have negatively impacted Oxford Road, which is defined as a mixed area for businesses and housing.
Secondly, she judged that many of the rooms created would rely on rooflights rather than natural light, and that the garden was too small for the size of the home created.
Semi-detached homes in West Reading refused (PL/26/0199)
A plan to replace garages with two two‑storey semi‑detached homes to the rear of Wantage Road has been rejected.
Each home would have come with a parking space and a small rear garden fronting Wilson Road.
The project was rejected as it was judged to be a cramped overdevelopment, with the homes dominating the plot, with very limited space for landscaping and gardens.
Ms Davies also argued the project would result in overlooking for neighbours, with future occupants also receiving a lack of daylight.
Entrance lodge for independent school (PL/25/0758)
Leighton Park School has won permission for a small entrance lodge just inside the main gates on Shinfield Road, to control access and improve security.
The plan was approved as planning officer Jonathan Markwell assessed that the modestly sized building was well‑designed and appropriately scaled, fitting into the wooded ridgeline setting without harming the character of the area or the setting of nearby listed buildings.
The impact on trees and ecology was found to be acceptable.
Furthermore, no highways or residential amenity objections were raised, with the lodge being judged to support the school’s safe operation.
Conversion of garage into childminders timed out (PL/23/1645)
A plan to retrospectively change the use of a garage and games room into a childcare facility for a maximum of nine children has timed out.
The application for the house in Connaught Close was submitted in November 2023, but was disposed of on April 24.
A previous plan for the demolition of existing garages to create a replacement garage and games room was approved in 2015.
