Replacement of Reading workshop with three flats refused

Late last year, a plan was submitted to demolish the workshop at 37 Hilcot Road, West Reading, and replace it with three homes contained within one building.

The application has since been rejected by Reading Borough Council’s planning department.

The building is the home of The Silvers’ Workshop, a gathering place for men to work on projects including but not limited to metal and woodwork.

Barry Fowler, the chairman of the charity, has accepted that it is time to move on from the workshop, despite the planning refusal.

Mr Fowler said: “It’s only a matter of time that it [a plan for the building] will be accepted and go through.

“In the meantime, there is a lot of work on the building that needs doing, such as rain coming through, which we are reluctant to spend money on if it gets demolished.

“So yes, we are looking for another premises.

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“Originally, we knew very well it was not going to be permanent, we knew very well we needed to look somewhere else.

“We are really outgrowing where we are now.

“We would like to buy somewhere, but really we can’t do that at the moment, so we’re looking to rent somewhere in the Reading area.”

He added that the new premises would have to have parking and be close to a bus route, as many beneficiaries can only get about using buses.

Remarking on the benefit the charity brings, Mr Fowler said: “It’s a lovely group. People who come there, they have lost their wives, and you see them improve.

“Men don’t join as many groups as women do, but you can see the sheds are popular as there’s over a thousand of them in the country.

“The equipment used is donated, probably by women who have lost their husbands.

“You have got people recovering from strokes and other illnesses and you see them improve.

“We’ve got one man who’s blind and is able to mend bikes!

“We come from a generation who were always working, we have got so many skills and trades.”

The charity launched a search for new premises last December. It currently totals a running cost of £11,500 a year for rent, council tax and utilities.

Anyone who is able to assist is urged to call Mr Fowler on 07905830438 and email homeless@thesilverworkshop.org.uk.

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The group was shown two units in the Acre Road Industrial Estate in Whitley by the council, but these were judged unsuitable and would have cost £35,000 a year in rent according to Mr Fowler.

The charity may require sponsorship to fund the workshop, but need to find a building first.

The plan for 37 Hilcot Road was rejected by the council’s planning department which judged that the proposed three apartment building would be ‘cramped, overdeveloped and unsympathetic’.

Proposed elevations for the three home building at 37 Hilcot Road, Reading. Credit: A & N Architects

It was also judged that the design would provide a lack of daylight for units one and three of the proposed building, with no affordable housing being provided either.

You can view the rejected application by typing reference 221038 into the council’s planning portal. It was rejected on February 23.