Four planning applications, including a highly controversial extension, a 5G mast and a flat for the homeless, will be voted on next week at a virtual meeting.

The meeting, on Wednesday, April 29, was originally due to take place at the Civic Offices on April 1 but was cancelled after coronavirus lockdown measures were introduced.

With government legislation having now passed allowing decisions to be taken online, Reading Borough Council (RBC) is holding its first meetings on Microsoft Teams from next week.

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Here are the four applications the council will decide on next week, all recommended for approval by council officers.

‘Stands out like a sore thumb’: Controversial extension plan which drew celeb interest returns

A controversial plan to enlarge a house in west Reading, which drew the interest of an Eastenders star, is back.

Rudolph Walker, AKA EastEnders’ Patrick Trueman, made an appearance when RBC rejected a controversial plan at 10 Pegs Green Close in July 2019.

This first proposal was described by councillors as “overbearing”, “over the top” and “like building another house around the house that exists”.

Council officers say the latest plan has addressed previous concerns but neighbours say it is too large and out of keeping with the character of the close.

You can read more about the proposal here.

Flat plan for homeless delayed in Reading area “struggling to tackle drug dealing, prostitution, beatings and burglaries”

The council wants to add a new flat to an apartment block in west Reading to house those at risk of homelessness.

A laundry room, bin store and cycle storage space would be converted into a one-bed flat at the apartment building at 72 Brunswick Street, which currently has 24 flats.

The application is a resubmission of a previous plan which was slammed by neighbours, who said the area is already struggling with anti-social behaviour.

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The previous proposal was withdrawn because it did not include a proposal to replace the lost laundry facility, which has now been rectified.

No comments have been sent opposing the latest plans and the council has not addressed previous concerns about anti-social behaviour in its report.

You can read more about the proposal here.

Filling in the gaps: Two-bed detached house in Whitley

This Reading Borough Council (RBC) proposal for an affordable two-bedroom detached house in Whitley has received no opposition.

The proposal at 76 Circuit Lane in Southcote, aims to help with the borough’s housing needs and would fill in the existing gap between 76 and 80 Circuit Lane.

“Abuse of basic human rights”: Huawei and EE 5G mast

This application, looking to replace a mast in Southcote with a larger 5G-enabled versions, was not in the original agenda published on April 1.

Wireless Infrastructure Group Ltd is looking to remove the existing 15 metre mast on Burghfield Road and replace it with a new 25 metre tower for EE and Huawei.

One letter of objection has been sent to the plan, describing the proposal as “a flagrant abuse of our basic human rights and an abuse of the duty of care towards the population in the close proximity to this mast”.

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They have called for proper safety reviews to be carried out before building 5G masts.

Council officers are in support of the proposal, stating: “On balance, the suggested health risks associated with this development, as raised by the objector, and the fear and/or stress associated with these perceived risks are outweighed by the reassurances provided by the technical information submitted by the applicant.”

How will planning meetings work during the Covid-19 crisis?

The Planning Applications committee will now meet online with a reduced membership of ten councillors, down from 14.

Where a nominated member cannot attend, another member of the full committee will attend in their place.

Planning meetings will be prioritised to focus on the business that is most important to the pandemic response and recovery.

Other matters which are important for the economic development of the town will also come to the committee but minor and household applications not related to the recovery will not.

An example of this is an extension plan in east Reading that a neighbour said would “completely overshadow” her kitchen. This plan is no longer on the Planning Applications committee agenda this month.

Major applications that are recommended for refusal will now be delegated to the deputy director for planning and not come to meetings.

Information on how to watch the online meeting live will be published here.

The first ever virtual RBC meeting, of the Policy committee, will be on Monday (April 27) which you can read more about here.