Plan for new gym at Reading retail park submitted

A Starbucks has already been added to the Reading Link Retail Park in Whitley already this year. A gym could next be added to the retail park according to a plan by its owners.

Elsewhere, a company has submitted a plan to convert offices into flats in the town centre, and another company has submitted a fresh plan to build three townhouses in West Reading.

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

Plan for new gym at Reading Link Retail Park (231077)

Floorplans and elevations for a proposed gym at Reading Link Retail Park. Credit: Sorbon Estates

Sorbon Estates, which owns Reading Link Retail Park, has applied to build a new 1,780 sqm gym on the site.

Designs show the gym being a two-storey building with a ground floor and mezzanine level, with a planning document stating that it will be open 24/7.

READ MORE: Plan to convert until into 24/7 gym at retail park 

The building would lead to the loss of approximately 47 car parking spaces, meaning 242 spaces would be left.

The retail park is also home to Home Bargains, Matalan, The Food Warehouse, a sports bike shop and Bensons for Beds, with the gym building being situated near the BP garage.

Plan to convert town centre offices into flats (231492) 

40 Oxford Road, Reading. Offices above the Palmyra restaurant could be converted into six flats. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

A development company called New Hill Limited has applied to convert town centre offices into flats.

The first to third floors of 40 Oxford Road are currently made up of office space, with the Palmyra Lebanese restaurant occupying the ground floor. The building currently has scaffolding around it.

READ MORE: Reading office building could be converted into more than 200 flats

Now, New Hill wants to convert the offices into six one-bedroom flats, with two across each upper level.

Floorplans show five of the flats coming with a single bed and one flat coming with a double bed, with all coming with private washing and toilet facilities, a kitchen and living area.

Yet another plan for townhouses in West Reading submitted (231491)

The rear of 19-21 Western Elms Avenue, where Infill Land Constructions Ltd wants to build three town houses. Credit: Google Maps

Infill Land Consultants has submitted a third plan to build three townhouses on land adjoining 19 and 21 Western Elms Avenue.

The development would see the three homes contained within one new three-storey building, with each having four bedrooms.

The elevation and floorplans for three townhouses in Western Elm Avenue in West Reading. Credit: M D Howlett Architectural Consultant (Image: M D Howlett Architectural Consultant)

Two previous plans for the townhouses have been rejected by the council’s planning department due to concerns about the impact of the project on biodiversity.

The new scheme repositions the building in an effort to address the reasons for refusal.

Residential care home approved  (230797)

A house in Glennon Close, Southcote, subject of a plan to convert it into a care home for mothers and children. Credit: Nehal Ahmed

A plan to convert a house into a residential care home for children has been approved.

Earlier this year, the owner of a five-bedroom house at Glennon Close in Southcote applied for a legal certificate to convert it into a care home for up to two children looked after by three staff.

The legal certificate allowing the conversion was granted on Wednesday, October 18.