A number of interesting planning applications have been submitted to Reading Borough Council this week.

They include the conversion of the old Barclay’s at Tilehurst Triangle into a Costa Coffee, and a school’s bid to keep using offices in a business area in Whitley.

There is also a plan to convert a single house into eight apartments near Reading town centre.

READ MORE: Council rejects 144-flat plan in Market Place in latest planning decisions

You can view planning applications and decisions on the Reading Borough Council planning portal here: http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/welcome.asp

Plan to replace old Barclay’s Bank with Costa Coffee in Tilehurst (210681)

Reading Chronicle: Designs for the new Costa Coffee at 1, Tilehurst Triangle

Costa Coffee is due to open at Tilehurst Triangle according to planning documents.

The company has applied to take over the old Barclay’s Bank and turn it into a cafe. Barclay’s closed the bank last year, and since then, the unit has been lying dormant.

The new cafe in Tilehurst represents something of a comeback for Costa Coffee in Reading, along with news that a Costa will be coming to Broad Street as well.

The chain pulled out of The Oracle at the start of 2020.

READ MORE: The Reading restaurant which has spent its entire lifetime in the pandemic

Replacement of Thames Valley Angling Shop with new storefront in Tilehurst (210664)

Reading Chronicle: The Thames Valley Angling shop in 258 Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst

The unused Thames Valley Angling Shop is due to be revamped as plans to replace the current frontage with a glass design have been submitted.

The applicants also want to do a single storey rear extension to the building, number 258 Kentwood Hill.

The Thames Valley Angling Shop is listed as permanently closed on Google.

School’s bid to stay in offices in Whitley (210736)

OneSchool Global UK is hoping to keep teaching in the offices it occupies at 14 Arkwright Road, Reading.

The school has applied  for a continued change of use of the building from B1 offices to a D1 school. However, the application is only for a temporary period of three years, implying that the school will either have to move premises or look for a permanent location once that period has expired.

OneSchool Global UK has its Senior School in the offices. OneSchool is an independent Christian education institution which has a total of 23 campuses in the UK.

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Conversion of house into HMO near Reading town centre (210568)

Reading Chronicle: 4 Howard Street in Reading. Applicants have applied to convert it into a Home of Multiple Occupancy

A plan has been submitted to convert 4, Howard Street from its current use as a home into a Home of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) for eight people.

The house currently has two-storeys and a basement. The applicants have proposed to have a living room and kitchen on the ground floor, three ensuite-bedrooms on the first floor, three ensuite-bedrooms on the second floor, and two ensuite

All rooms come with a TV, a toilet with a shower and a wardrobe. It is understood the eight occupants would share the kitchen.

Howard Street already has a number of HMOs, as does neighbouring Zinzan Street.

Application to move playground in Prospect Park (210745)

Reading Chronicle: Prospect Park Play Area (Reading plan app 210745)

Planners at Prospect Park have applied to relocate the existing children’s playground from its current location to a new site located to the northeast of the pavilion.

This would require the installation of play equipment and a new one metre fence.

The current playground would then be reinstated into an informal open space.