Flats plan refused and car wash approved - planning roundup

Storage yard to become car wash

The site of the new car wash

A storage yard will become a car wash, after plans submitted by Adams Motors were approved by the council this week.

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The site at 187-189 Cardiff Road will become home to a car wash, two containers for storage and car sales.

The car wash will be under a canopy towards the front of the site and aims to service three-to-four cars per hour at 15 to 20 minute intervals.

One container will be along the back of the site, used as storage for car parts, tyres and tools.

The other container will be used as a site office and this will be next to the site entrance.

Car sales will be pre-arranged appointments and vehicles will be advertised for sale online rather than within the site.

Adams Motors runs Adams Auto, an MOT and service centre at 193-195 Cardiff Road.

Vacant shop in Tilehurst will not become flats

3 New Hill Lane

Plans to turn a vacant shop in Tilehurst into two flats were refused by RBC this week due to concerns about “non-traditional materials and unsympathetic design”.

The council rejected the plans to turn the old Horncastle Mini Market shop at 3 New Lane Hill into become two one-bed flats, with external alterations including new windows and roof lights.

Officers said: “The proposed development would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the street scene and wider Horncastle Conservation Area by virtue of the use of non-traditional materials and unsympathetic design. “

Concerns were also raised about the “cramped” nature of the accommodation.

They added: “The proposed internal layout would provide insufficient floor space to Flat 1 and inadequate outlook from the bedrooms in each flat.

“This would create a cramped form of accommodation for future occupiers and would result in poor quality internal environments, harmful to their amenity.

Officers also raised concerns about noise levels for tenants given the closeness of the building to the A4 main road.

And they said the proposed terrace would cause a “significant detrimental impact” on the neighbour due to its height and proximity to the shared boundary.

Extensions approved despite neighbour’s concerns

Extensions at a home in Caversham Heights have been approved despite concerns from a neighbour.

The works on a Matlock Road house include two-storey side extensions, single-storey rear extensions and the demolition of a detached garage.

A neighbour said the development would block from their kitchen “which is already a dark room because its north-west facing”.

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They added: “We use this room as a place for us to grow plants from seed as we are keen gardeners, so the light is important”.

But planning officers said the proposal would not result in a harmful loss of light to any neighbour.