Plan to remove fire hazard cladding at Reading flats

Elsewhere, an abandoned day care centre in East Reading could be converted into a doctor’s surgery, and the town’s own Winter Wonderland has provided its plans for what it hopes to set up this year.

You can view the applications submitted by typing the reference numbers in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Removal of cladding at flats near town centre (231112)

Elevation plans for the changes to the exterior of the Queens Wharf building in Reading to remove cladding that may present a fire hazard. Credit: Oxford Architects

The Queens Wharf RTM company has applied to remove cladding from Queens Wharf located at the busy junction of Queens Road and Watlington Street near the town centre.

The company’s planning agents Oxford Architects state the existing cladding potentially poses a fire safety risk and is therefore “not providing a safe environment for its residents.”

The project would involve replacing an existing insulated render system and metal cladding with new fire compliant insulation and render with a powder coated panel cladding system.

Last November, a separate company, Metrix Developments, was refused permission to convert defunct ground floor offices into apartments (apps 221383 and  221384).

Change of use of abandoned day care centre into surgery (230824)

2 Alexandra Road, Reading, an abandoned day care centre which could be turned into a surgery. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

A day care centre that has been closed since late 2019 could be turned into the new home of a nearby surgery.

The address, 2 Alexandra Road, has been boarded up since the pandemic, with a plan to convert it into a children’s care home being shelved.

Now, Melrose Surgery has applied to convert it into a surgery, which would require internal modifications.

Melrose Surgery itself is located in nearby Eldon Road, but a planning agent has stated that it needs to be relocated due to a lack of car parking spaces and absence of a lift for accessibility.

Winter Wonderland to occupy Caversham car park (231094)

The skating rink at Reading Winter Wonderland. Credit: Premier Winter Wonderland Events

Reading’s own Winter Wonderland is set to occupy the Hills Meadow Car Park in Caversham again this year.

The plan involves installing a temporary ice rink, a stall for ice skates and other stalls that take up spaces at the council owned car park.

Organisers Premier Winter Wonderland Events have applied for temporary permission, meaning they will not occupy the site before October 15 or after January 21, 2024.

The Winter Wonderland was previously held at Forbury Gardens but moved to Hills Meadow in 2021.

Conversion of house into HMO (230824)

2 Lincoln Road, Reading, subject of a plan to convert it into a house of multiple occupation. Credit: Google Maps

The owning company of the house addressed 2 Lincoln Road has applied to convert it into a small four-bed home of multiple occupation (HMO).

Scaffolding on the exterior of the house was seen earlier this month.

The plan would see three bedrooms being established on the first floor and one on the ground floor, with a shared living room, kitchen and toilet downstairs.

Of the rooms, three would have ensuite shower toilets and one would have an ensuite bath.