A plan to convert a chain restaurant in Reading that has had a difficult recent history has been put on hold.
The Coconut Tree Sri-Lankan restaurant in the town centre was put at risk as the chain almost went into administration last year.
Although the restaurant in Kings Road was rescued in a deal with MPS Hospitality, a plan was submitted to convert it into six flats.
But this project appears to have been put on hold. That is just one of the planning decisions that have been made in Reading recently.
You can view each application featured in this roundup of planning decisions by typing the reference in brackets into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
Conversion of Coconut Tree withdrawn (PL/26/0238)
A plan to turn The Coconut Tree restaurant in Kings Road into six flats has been withdrawn.
The project would have seen the ground floor and lower ground floor of the building converted to provide three one-bed and three two-bed flats.
But the plan submitted in February was withdrawn on Monday, May 5.
The site was previously occupied by the Italian restaurant Zizzi, which closed down in 2020, with The Coconut Tree opening in August 2021.
Conversion of cafe into takeaway in Whitley approved (PL/25/0185)
A plan to convert a cafe into a takeaway next to the Co-op in Whitley has been approved.
The unit in Whitley Wood Road was previously occupied by Food Avenue, which is listed as permanently closed.
A submission by a planning agent from Homz stated that the applicant wanted to change the usage hours from 7am to 3pm to 1pm to 9pm.
Planning officer Anthony Scoles judged the conversion into a takeaway was acceptable, with the application being granted on Friday, May 1.
Creation of three homes in Southcote approved (PL/23/0785)
The creation of three homes in Circuit Lane has been approved.
This project involves the division of an existing five-bedroom home into two four-bedroom homes, with an additional detached three-bedroom being built on the site.
Extensions will be added to the existing house to create space for the two semi-detached homes.
Planning officer Alison Amoah welcomed the creation of additional family-sized housing on the site, and the project was duly approved on April 30.
New learning centre in Tilehurst (PL/26/0284)
A tuition company has won approval to convert a former bank into a study centre.
Kumon is an after-school teaching programme which helps pupils with maths and English lessons.
The company applied to convert the former Nationwide bank in School Road, Tilehurst, into a study centre.
Planning officer Scoles judged that this conversion would be an appropriate use for the unit, so the plan was approved on April 29.
