Berkshire planning round up: Hotel extension and new film studio

They have been considering plans for a hotel extension at Newbury Racecourse, new apartment blocks and a film studio that could be used to make star-studded Hollywood blockbusters.

However, some of the plans have proven to be very unpopular and former Prime Minister Theresa May has stepped in to oppose one project that promises a "luxury" retirement village in Sonning.

Take a look at the five planning applications that have got people in Berkshire talking this week.

Newbury Racecourse hotel extension approved

The Lodge hotel at Newbury Racecourse will soon be expanded

Plans to extend the hotel at Newbury Racecourse were given the green light this week.

The owners of the racecourse have been granted planning permission to add a three-storey extension containing 40 bedrooms to The Lodge, taking the total up to 76.

They also got permission to operate the hotel 365 days a year, at a meeting of West Berkshire Council’s Western Area Planning Committee on March 17.

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The Lodge was originally used to accommodate stable and racecourse staff during race days, but in March 2016 the owners of the racecourse were granted permission to use that building as a hotel for 305 days a year.

New apartment block in Reading town centre 

An artist's impression of the new apartment block that could soon be built in Reading town centre

A developer has applied for planning permission to flatten a derelict two-storey office building in Eaton Place, Reading and replace it with a red brick apartment block.

According to the plans, the eight-storey block will contain 27 apartments and have a communal roof terrace.

The developers say there will be one, two and three-bedroom apartments and four of them will be classed as affordable.

People are now being urged to have their say on the plans, during a public consultation.

Film studio for Hollywood blockbusters near Reading 

This week, it was revealed that plans to build a film studio near Reading that could be used to shoot Hollywood blockbusters are set for approval.

Shinfield Studios has applied for planning permission to set up a TV and film studio in Thames Valley Science Park for five years.

Shinfield Studios was launched in 2020 after Los Angeles based film studio investor Commonwealth Real Estate LP agreed a deal with University of Reading, to build studios and a creative media campus at the science park.

In a statement, the university said: “The studios will bring major Hollywood film productions to the UK, creating around 1,500 new jobs, and supporting up to 1,500 further indirect jobs.”

Wokingham Borough Council’s Planning Committee is expected to approve plans for the temporary TV and film studio when it meets next week, on March 24.

‘Luxury’ retirement village

At that meeting, the committee is also expected to approve plans to build a “luxury” retirement village in Sonning.

Arlington Retirement Lifestyles has applied for planning permission to build 57 apartments for people over the age of 60, just off Old Bath Road.

According to the plans, there will be three apartment blocks that will each be three storeys tall, communal landscape gardens, and 63 parking spaces.

However, former Prime Minister Theresa May and 16 other people have lodged objections.

In a letter, she wrote: “The 57 dwellings proposed on this site would be squeezed into an area currently occupied by three typically large Sonning houses which are in keeping with the area.

“Sonning is a much loved and visited village and it is important to ensure that new developments respect the local surroundings.

“This development is inappropriate for the local area.”

Developer behind 24-home development wants condition removed

Character Developments wants to convert the office block at Cadogan House, in Rose Kiln Lane, into 24 apartments.

Reading Borough Council approved the plans in January 2019, but now the company wants the council to remove a condition it imposed.

A letter to the council states: “When the original application was submitted the site was identified as in Flood Zone 2.

“This led to the application of a condition requiring minimum floor levels to be achieved within the development when the prior approval was issued in January 2019.

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“Since that time, as is shown by the Flood Risk Assessment submitted with this application, the flood models have changed to the extent that the site is now identified as in Flood Zone 1.

“We understand that this is the result of flood defence improvement works.

“The reason for the condition to protect future residents from flood risk now no longer applies and the condition does not serve a useful planning purpose.”

The company applied for that condition to be removed this week.