Car wash in Reading for nearly 10 years allowed to continue

The hand car wash at Hills Meadow Car Park in Caversham has been operating since 2015, and is set for its 10th anniversary next year.

Elsewhere, a huge firm is set to relocate from its current offices to Green Park.

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

Car wash allowed to continue (231306)

The owner of the Hill’s Meadow Hand Car Wash has won permission for the business to continue operating for a further period of five years.

The hand car wash adjacent to the  Hill’s Meadow car park in Caversham has been running since 2015.

Its new owner applied to keep it there until 2028, as well as adding a public toilet, refreshment server and waiting area for customers.

The extension was granted unanimously by the council’s planning applications committee.

Councillor Richard Davies (Labour, Caversham) said: “It strikes me as a reasonable use of this car park, I’m not sure Arthur Hill who donated this land had this in his vision, but things have changed a lot over 120 years.”

He added that the additions to the site were welcome improvements.

Firm set to move to Green Park (240151)

The elevation plan for Wood engineering consultants to occupy 400 Longwater Avenue in Green Park, Reading. Credit: Morgan Lovell

Wood Plc, an engineering consultancy firm, is set to move its major offices from the former Berkshire County Council offices to Green Park.

In preparation to occupy the new offices at 400 Longwater Avenue, Wood has applied for advertising consent.

Wood currently occupies Shire Hall in Shinfield Park, the former home of the county council and Foster Wheeler.

The move has been reported on the Green Park website, which states Wood is set to move its Reading workforce there in August.

Extension and new shopfront in busy Katesgrove area (240101)

Elevation and floor plans for the project to extend 82 Whitley Street in Reading. Credit M D Howlett Architectural Consultant

The owner of 92 Whitley Street has applied to build an extension and shopfront to the building.

The shopfront would face Essex Road, providing sales space, a kitchenette and a toilet at ground level.

The property currently serves Reading Laundrette and Fadez Barbers.

It was subject to plans to demolish it and replace it with a new shopfront and maisonette.

However, that plan was rejected by the council’s planning department last July.

Conversion of flats into family home (240246)

A terraced home in Kings Road, Caversham, which will be converted from flats into a single home. Credit: Google Maps

A landlord of a terraced house in Kings Road, Caversham has applied to convert it from flats into a family home.

It is understood that the house is currently a small home of multiple occupation (HMO).

Submitted plans show it being used as a family home with a lounge, living room and kitchen on the ground floor and three bedrooms upstairs, with one of these coming with an ensuite shower toilet.