Reading store due to be flattened in plans submitted

A project to revitalise the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Friar Street is progressing, with landowners submitting plans for demolition work that would clear the way for a destination courtyard to be created.

Elsewhere, an events company has applied for temporary permission to occupy a field in the town during the Christmas period.

You can view each application featured by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Demolition to clear way for town centre courtyard destination (231223)

Reading Food and Wine at 146 Friar Street, Reading, which is set to be demolished and replaced with a courtyard and apart-hotel rooms. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Thackeray Estates, which owns the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Friar Street, has submitted demolition plans to facilitate its project to create a destination area for the town centre.

The plan involves the demolition of 146 Friar Street, a three-storey brick building occupied by Reading Food & Wine, and other buildings and other buildings set back from the street scene.

A CGI of new retail space in Queen Victoria Street, Reading. Credit: Thackeray Estates

This demolition work would clear the way for a courtyard to be created as part of the QVS1+ project, which will see the conversion and demolition of buildings on the corner to create new leisure and shopping space and an apart-hotel.

Thackeray Estates won approval for the project in May this year.

Christmas Party Event returns to King’s Meadow (231130)

The floorplans for the Burlesque themed Christmas Party held by Best Parties Ever in Kings Meadow, Reading. Credit: iElive

The Best Parties Ever company is hoping to return to King’s Meadow off Napier Road this year.

The annual event sees a big top tent set up at the Thames-side meadow with dinner and performances for guests.

This year, the event will have a burlesque theme. In order for the tent to be set up and the party to go ahead, organisers require temporary planning approval from the council.

READ MORE: Popular cocktail bar could extend hours to later at night

Designs show the tent being filled with circular tables with chairs for 790 people, a dancefloor and a silent disco area.

They have applied to use Kings Meadow for 45 days with the site cleared by 2pm on New Years Eve.

Indian food business plan for kitchen at industrial estate (230972)

The industrial unit 20 Portman Road, Reading, which Crispy Dosa is due to occupy. Credit: Google Maps

The Crispy Dosa Indian food business has applied to install a commercial kitchen at 20 Portman Road.

This plan preserves the use of the unit as a warehouse for storage and distribution, but would establish space for a commercial kitchen.

That would allow Crispy Dosa to prepare food ready for distribution.

Crispy Dosa is a food franchise with seven locations. It has a restaurant at 60 Oxford Road next to the Travelodge.

Two big developments clear planning hurdles 

Two big developments have also cleared planning hurdles this week, with section 106 legal agreements being signed to let the projects go ahead.

The council’s plan for the redevelopment of Reading Central Pool (app reference 221405) and the plan for 60 homes at the Carters shop in Caversham Road (app reference 221324) have had S106 agreements signed.