Plans for a Starbucks near one of the busiest roundabouts in Reading have hit a few setbacks.
A project to create a drive-thru ‘pod’ in Scours Lane, just off the Norcot Junction, was approved on appeal to the government’s planning inspectorate in Spring 2024.
But the development has hit setbacks as detailed plans for electric vehicle charging and updated designs have been rejected by Reading Borough Council.
Elsewhere, the owner of a unit currently occupied by a Chinese takeaway in Southcote has won approval to convert it into a shop.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Delays for new drive-thru takeaway pod (PL/26/0291 and PL/26/0293)
The project for a new drive-thru hot food takeaway in Tilehurst is facing delays due to planning issues.
The drive-thru will be established on grassland off Scours Lane, but the development will not start any time soon due to the refusal of detailed plans by the council.
The applicant had applied to make changes to the electric vehicle (EV) charging plan to provide five EV-only parking spaces.
However, the council has stated these changes must be submitted as detailed applications rather than ‘non-material amendments’ to the project.
It is understood that the applicant Weybourne Holdings is angling for Starbucks to occupy the takeaway.
But the council also rejected updated designs for the same reasons, requiring Weybourne to submit detailed planning applications for the desired changes.
Expansion for convenience store into Chinese takeaway (PL/26/0043 and PL/25/1642)
The owner of the Premier Express store at Coronation Square in Southcote has won permission to expand into the Chinese takeaway next door.
The unit is currently occupied by the Eastern Choice takeaway.
The council has approved the conversion of the unit from a takeaway into a shop, allowing the Premier Express to expand its operations.
Approved plans show two entrances for the enlarged convenience store, and references to non-load-bearing partitional walls being removed to enable the development.
Battle continues over car business in Tilehurst (PL/26/0002)
The council has declined to determine a plan to retain buildings linked to a controversial car business in Norcot Road.
The planning enforcement team ordered buildings to the rear of Vesuvio Pizzeria to be removed in January 2024, decisions that were largely upheld in a planning appeal in August 2024.
The owners applied to retain existing buildings on the site, but this application has not been determined, as enforcement notices requesting their removal are active.
Change to allow heating earlier at special school (PL/26/0022)
A change to allow heating to come on earlier at The Avenue School in Tilehurst has been approved.
The institution in Conwy Close teaches people aged 2-19 with special educational needs (SEN).
The school has won permission to turn its air source heat pump on after 5am.
Previously, a rule stipulated that the heat pump could not be used between 11pm and 7am overnight.
