In this week’s roundup of planning decisions in and around Reading, works to a Grade II listed building have been approved despite concerns from neighbours.

Meanwhile, 93 flats have been approved in the town centre after three previous plans were refused in just three months and ‘crazy’ plans to demolish Caversham houses and build retirement blocks have been withdrawn.

Finally, cracking brickwork will be replaced amid safety concerns at a town centre building which is home to Caffe Nero and a hotel-to-flats conversion has been rejected.

READ MORE: Neighbour raises concern about restaurant's makeshift extension

Retrospective works at Grade II listed house approved

The council has granted a homeowner retrospective consent to make internal changes to a listed building despite concerns from neighbours.

Neighbours had raised concerns that the plans at 75 Baker Street would affect the structural integrity of the terraced row on the street.

The plans, which have already been completed, include:

  • Installation of a kitchen in the basement
  • Conversion of the existing bathroom to an en-suite connecting to the rear bedroom on first floor
  • Repairing the ceiling in the rear bedroom (the original ceiling collapsed due to a leak from the water tank in the attic)
  • Installation of a metal staircase to provide access to attic
  • Partition of a small section of the attic and installation of a toilet

The Conservation & Urban Design Officer (CUDO) provided consultation feedback for this application, concluding that the works that have been carried out do not harm 75 Baker Street or the terraced row, and that the changes have allowed for the on-going occupation of the building as a family residence.

Council planning officers said the external architectural features and reasons for listing 75 Baker Street and the terraced row remain intact.

While they said it is regrettable that Listed Building Consent was not sought prior to the works being carried out, they agreed that, on balance, the internal works are “acceptable and not harmful to the Grade II Listed building to the point of refusal”.

Go fourth: Flats plans finally approved after three refusals

Plans to turn town centre offices into dozens of flats have been approved at the fourth time of asking, following three refusals in just three months.

Tene Living and Business Environment SoanePoint submitted a joint planning application to convert the Soane Point Market Place offices into 93 flats after previous plans for 144 and 100 apartments were rejected.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) officers had raised concerns that occupiers of the flats would be impacted by noise from nearby commercial businesses.

In response, the developers adapted the proposals, reducing the number of homes by seven, to allow all flats facing the internal courtyard to have separate bedrooms and living rooms and allow tenants to open a window and use another room away from potential noise.

The developer has also relocated kitchen extraction units, carried out repair and maintenance work to a faulty air conditioning unit, and replaced a chiller unit.

New noise surveys were carried out, which have satisfied Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) environmental protection team, which said noise levels for tenants will be approximately level with background noise levels are, therefore, “unlikely to be at nuisance levels”.

READ MORE: Plans for 93 Market Place flats approved after three refusals in three months

Plans to demolish house and build retirement blocks withdrawn

‘Crazy’ plans to demolish houses in Caversham and replace them with two blocks of retirement homes have been withdrawn after neighbours complained it would leave them “swamped and surrounded”.

Seven neighbours submitted objections to the plans for 60 homes at 205-219 Henley Road and the developer chose to withdraw the application this week, after receiving feedback from Reading Borough Council (RBC) officers.

READ MORE: ‘Crazy’ plans to demolish Caversham houses and build retirement blocks withdrawn

Works approved to replace Caffe Nero building’s cracking bricks

Unsafe cracking walls and other materials which are a fire risk will be replaced at a building in the town centre which is home to Caffé Nero.

Netting was installed above the cafe on the corner of Broad Street and St Mary’s Butts to protect pedestrians from falling debris due to the cracking bricks.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) this week approved Standard Life Aberdeen’s application to remove and replace the cladding at 66-68 St Mary’s Butts, including the cracked bricks and other materials which are combustible.

The cladding was previously installed just five years ago.

READ MORE: Caffe Nero building’s cracking brickwork will be replaced amid safety concerns

Hotel-flat conversion refused

Plans to turn a Burghfield hotel into flats have been rejected by West Berkshire Council because of the increased demand on emergency responders and the local authority in the event of a nuclear incident at AWE Burghfield.

The Roselawn Hotel owners wanted to convert the 25-bed hotel into eight flats but the move has been rejected after the council’s Joint Emergency Planning Service advised against the development in this location.

The application was also rejected as it fails to secure an off-site contribution towards the provision of two affordable housing units off site.