Offices at the site of a former nightclub in the town centre could be converted into 76 flats, under plans recently submitted to the council.

The building, on Duke Street, includes former nightclub Po Nah Nah, which closed in 2008, and riverside offices on the basement, ground and four upper floors.

Developer Lipman Properties only wants to replace the offices at Dukesbridge House, with the disused nightclub area unaffected by the plans.

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The developer’s planning consultant said: “The new flats will provide a much-needed range of housing for first time buyers or downsizers in Reading in a highly accessible and sustainable location.”

Seventy one-bedroom flats are planned at the site, along with four studio apartments and two two-bedroom flats.

The application, submitted to Reading Borough Council (RBC), seeks to change the use of the site from offices into flats under prior approval legislation created by the government in 2013.

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This legislation allows developers to convert office buildings to housing without planning permission.

Councils cannot claim affordable housing contributions nor charge regular planning fees to developments which proceed through this system, known as ‘prior approval’.

Earlier this year, RBC said it has lost more than £6 million and hundreds of affordable homes due to this legislation.