Plans to replace long-vacant building with flats refused

Reading Borough Council (RBC) had recommended the plans at 111a Watlington Street be approved but a majority councillors on the Planning Applications committee disagreed, rejecting the plan last night (Wednesday, September 9).

Evelyn Williams, chair of Reading’s Conservation Area Advisory Committee, raised concerns about the lack of natural light and ventilation for future occupiers, questioning if the flats would have suitable living conditions.

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And this was one of the main reasons the councillors refused the plan, with concerns the basement flats would not have enough natural light, while there were also concerns about how the modern design would fit with the area.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Planning, said the proposal would “replicate substandard basement accommodation” in the area.

Councillor Liam Challenger, on the other hand, called the plan “thorough and thought-out” and said it is down to personal preference whether people want to live with light, giving his full support to the scheme.

But councillor Josh Williams said he does not think basements with poor light should be an option for Reading residents.

Although planning officers said the basement light wells would be of a good size, Cllr Challenger was the only member to agree with officers that this was not a big issue.

Focusing on design issues, councillor Jane Stanford-Beale said the scheme was not a good modern design. This was an issue that split councillors, with Cllr Micky Leng praising the modern design and criticising the current building and others preferring the current building.

Cllr Rowland says: “There is an oddity and quirkiness to [the building] and it makes a homey contribution”.

PICTURED: The current building on Watlington Street

Meanwhile, councillor Ricky Duveen said he did not like the design of either building, calling the current one “a bit peculiar” and the new design “one big box”.

Cllr Page says the main view for passers-by would be a “boring flank wall” and the council is “entitled to expect better”.

He also raised an issue with the plan to change the use of the site from light industrial to residential.

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Planning officers had explained that the building has been on the rental market for light industrial uses for over three years without being let but Cllr Page suggested the owner had only tried to let the site at a very high price and should try again at a lower cost.

Concerns were also raised by the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust that residents would have to walk across the hospital’s land to access the flats, but this was dismissed by councillors and officers as being a civil dispute and not relevant to a planning decision.

Councillors voted to reject the scheme, with only Cllr Challenger voting in favour.

Following the decision, a heated discussion then ensued between Cllr Page and planning officer Richard Eatough over how the councillors could justify its decision.

The officer was particularly unconvinced that the loss of the light industrial use could be adequately argued as a reason for refusal given the area is residential, while Cllr Page was adamant it was a good reason given the old glass merchants had been there so long.

Eventually, they agreed to work on the detailed reasons for refusals after the meeting.