A plan for bungalows next to a former pub in Reading has been rejected due to concerns over the character of the area and waste management.
A developer was hoping to create two homes contained in one building next to the former Wellington Arms pub in Katesgrove, but the project has been refused.
That is just one of the planning decisions made by Reading Borough Council recently.
Elsewhere, separate plans to bring vacant homes back into use have been approved, with one of these being in Katesgrove and the other up in Caversham Heights.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Plan for two bungalows next to former pub rejected (PL/26/0666)
A plan for two bungalows next to the former Wellington Arms pub in Whitley Street has been refused.
The applicant, Sykes Capital, wanted to create two one-bed homes contained in one new building next to the old pub, which is currently occupied by the Turkish Halal Food Centre.
However, the council’s planning department rejected the project, citing a number of reasons, including the visual harm to the setting of the old pub and the bungalows being ‘crammed’ into the site.
There was also confusion regarding a lack of detail about how bin crews would collect waste, as physical access would be required through the car park of the Food Centre.
Conversion of vacant home into two flats approved (PL/26/0496)
The owner of a family house in Katesgrove has won permission to convert it into two flats.
The property in Basingstoke Road is a terraced six-bed family home which has been vacant since September 2020.
The project involves turning the ground floor into a three-bed flat, with one of the rooms provided upstairs, and the first floor into a two-bed flat with a kitchen and dining area provided in the loft.
Planning officer Marcelina Rejwerksa judged that the principle of the development was acceptable, and would suit the housing needs of two households once the project is complete.
Plans progressing to bring derelict house back into use (PL/26/0177)
A project is moving forward to bring a derelict house in Caversham Heights back into use.
The property in Albert Road was previously converted into flats, with current owners Widbrook Developments winning permission to convert it into two four-bed homes in August last year.
Details of the construction, hard and soft landscaping and electric vehicle charging for the project were approved by the council’s planning department on July 15.
Widbrook also won an appeal to keep hoardings around the building up to deter intruders earlier this year.
