Plans to turn old Reading library into Islamic centre lodged

This is just one of the plans that have been submitted in Reading this week.

Elsewhere, developers have applied to knock down a house and shops and replace it new retail space and 12 flats.

You can view plans by putting the reference numbers in brackets into the council’s planning website here: http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/welcome.asp

Conversion of old Whitley library into Muslim community centre (210537)

The Al Majid Welfare Trust has applied to convert the old Whitley library into a community centre.

The Al Majid Welfare Trust, which is a Muslim charity, has acquired the old library building, and it is registered as the home of the Trust on Google.

The Trust wants to use the library for classes and workshops for children and adults.

Seven car parking spaces are provided, with a separate disabled space.

The collection of the library was moved into South Reading Community Hub in June 2018, located just a few minutes walk away.

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The library building itself has been locally listed by Reading Borough Council.

Last year, the Trust won approval to convert the old Georgie’s The Florist shop in Basingstoke Road into a base for their operations in September (application 191909), but don’t appear to have acted on the consent.

The florists have since relocated to Burghfield.

It was also reported that the Trust had bought the Deep Blue Sea fish and chip shop next to the florists, but the chip shop remains in operation.

Replacement of closed shops with new shops and flats (211932)

142-144 Whitley Wood Lane in Reading. The old shops are boarded up. Credit: Google Maps

The owners of closed shops and a house in Whitley have applied to demolish the current house and ancillary buildings and replace them with a big new one.

The buildings used to be the home of Berkshire Home Brew and the Smith’s bike shop, but Google Map images from this August show both shops boarded up.

Now, Whitley Wood Properties have submitted a plan to demolish 142-144 Whitley Wood Lane and replace it with a new three storey building with retail space and 12 flats.

Designs for the three-storey building planned to replace 142-144 Whitley Wood Lane. Credit: Robert Young Associates Ltd

If approved, the building would be home to three businesses on the ground floor, with 10 spaces being provided in an undercroft car park.

On each of the floors above, four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats would be provided, making up the 12 flats applied for.

Conversion of loft into flat (211731)

A plan has submitted to convert the loft into a flat at 63 London Street, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

The owner of 63 London Street has applied to convert the loft of the building into a one bedroom flat.

The plan involves installing new front and rear dormers to provide more space for the future occupant.

The new flat would have kitchen and living space, a bedroom and bathroom, with car parking being provided in South Street.

The building is currently being used as the base of the ABI College which is established in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University.

Legal certificate for eight bed student house near university (211936)

58 Erleigh Road, Reading. The owner wants it to be confirmed as a HMO. Credit: Google Maps

The owner of 58 Erleigh Road, Ghalib Hussain, has applied to legally certify it as a large Home of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

A planning statement by M D Howlett Associates states that the home is currently being used as an eight bed HMO for students.

The area is popular with students, with the house being opposite The Co-op, and on the same side of the road as the Hong Kong chinese takeaway, the Pop In convenience store, and Cafe Yolk.