A DIY store has gotten a new look recently in the latest planning news in Reading.
B&Q, which is known for home, garden and DIY sales has added advertising and replaced some signage at its store.
Elsewhere, JD is gearing up to open a branded gym at a retail park, and changes are coming for a shop in the town centre that was affected by a fire at a neighbouring business.
You can view each application either approved or submitted by typing the reference into the council’s planning portal.
New signs for B&Q installed (PL/24/0471)
Plans for new signs and advertising at the B&Q at the Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley have been approved.
One of the new signs above the big box store encourages people to shop online with a ‘shop day or night at diy.com’ sign above the main entrance.
The advertising plan was submitted in April, but by the time planning officer James Schofield visited the site on August 19, the changes had already been made.
Ultimately, Mr Schofield concluded the changes met advertising standards, with approval being granted on October 4.
JD Gym in Reading clears planning hurdle (PL/23/1077)
The JD Gym at the Reading Link Retail Park has moved a step closer to fruition as a crucial planning hurdle has been cleared.
The project involves building a 1,799 sqm gym, resulting in the loss of 47 parking spaces, leaving 264 spaces left, approved by councillors in June.
But in order for it to go ahead, JD had to sign a Section 106 legal agreement laying out financial contributions it will make to the council.
This includes a £8,455 contribution to education, skills and training in the borough.
The S106 agreement was signed on October 4, meaning the development can legally go ahead.
Changes to shopfront at store affected by fire (PL/24/1071)
The owner of a building in Friar Street that was affected by a fire has applied to make shopfront changes to increase fire safety.
The building, 133 Friar Street, was occupied by the Mystic Tattoo Lounge, which had to vacate the premises after a fire at neighbouring C Mart in May 2023.
Changes involve adding a new door and glazed window panels to the shop unit.
The unit is currently vacant, with Mystic Tattoo Lounge maintaining sites in Queen Victoria Street and Woodley.
Works to Catholic private school building (PL/24/0590)
The estate bursar of St Joseph’s College in Upper Redlands Road has applied to replace windows and make changes to the roof of one of its buildings.
According to a submitted document, the building in question, Block B1, ‘urgently’ requires replacement windows and roof tiles.
A planning agent stated that some roof tiles are cracked, broken and missing.
As well as installing new tiles, the school wants to add solar panels to Block B1 to provide a renewable source of energy.
