A change to allow a fashion and homeware retailer in Reading to sell food items and other products has been rejected.
The owners of the Reading Link Retail Park have had their bid to remove a restriction on what items can be sold at Matalan refused.
That is just one of the decisions made by Reading Borough Council’s planning department recently.
Adjustments to the flats that will replace the former driving test centre have been granted.
Meanwhile, in Caversham, a plan for a terrace of four homes at an unused site has been refused.
You can view the decided applications by typing the references in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Bid to remove sales restrictions at Matalan rejected (PL/25/0459)
An attempt to remove planning restrictions on what can be sold at the Matalan at Reading Link Retail Park.
The owners Sorbon Estates had applied to remove sales restrictions on unit C3 of the site that only permits the sale of clothing, household goods and textiles, china, glassware, pottery and seasonal items.
Council planning officer Jonathan Markwell determined that a legal certificate allowing the sale of more items would not be issued, as no previous planning permission for the unit had allowed it.
Matalan also occupies unit D, and expanded into unit C3 in 1999.
New homes in Caversham refused (PL/25/1020)
A plan for new homes next to a Co-op store in Caversham has been rejected over concerns about flooding and it being an ‘overdevelopment’.
A developer had applied to build a terrace of four three-bedroom homes in Star Road, next to the Co-op that occupies the former Star pub.
The homes would have provided occupants with rear gardens, a tree line to prevent overlooking and a parking space per house.
However, the project was refused as the applicant failed to demonstrate how the development would not present a flood risk, with the council stating the new homes would be ‘cramped’.
Changes to 16 flats at former test centre (PL/25/1189)
Changes to the 16 flats that will replace the former driving test centre in Katesgrove have been approved.
The site in Elgar Road South has been boarded up ahead of demolition to make way for an apartment block.
Housing association Abri applied to make changes to the windows and brickwork of the approved building.
These changes were considered acceptable by Mr Markwell.
House in university area confirmed as HMO (PL/25/1139)
A house in the university area has been confirmed as a six-bed home of multiple occupation (HMO).
It is situated in Whiteknights Road, in walking distance from an entrance to the University of Reading Whiteknights campus.
The application sought to confirm the change of use of the building from a house into a HMO, which was deemed acceptable by the planning department.
