Plan for Halfords to relocate at busy Reading retail park

Halfords is set to move to a smaller unit at Reading Retail Park, with the site owners applying for operational changes.

North of the river, developers have plans to make changes to a shop and home in a busy area of Caversham, and build nine homes near a primary school.

To view each application, type the reference number in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Operation changes for downsized Halfords (240527)

The unoccupied Wren Kitchens unit, set to be modified and occupied so that Halfords can move at the Reading Retail Park in Oxford Road. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

CT UK Property, which owns the Reading Retail Park in Oxford Road, has applied to make changes to approved plans for Halfords to relocate.

The project, which will see Halfords downsize into the former Wrens Kitchens unit, was approved in March.

Now the owners have applied for Halfords to be able to open an hour earlier, to begin at 8am rather than 9am from Monday to Saturday, with closure at 8pm.

The company also wants to change rules so that Halfords will be able to sell fitness and outdoor leisure goods, clothing and products, cycles, cycle goods, clothing and accessories.

New bungalow plan for Southcote (240415)

A sketch of the street view for a plan to build a new home along Berkeley Avenue in Southcote. Credit: Gareth Bertram Ltd

A developer has applied to build a new house between existing homes in Berkeley Avenue, Southcote.

The new home would provide single-level accommodation and be located near the Berkeley Avenue junction with Bath Road.

Inside, the bungalow would with an open plan kitchen and lounge, with a double bedroom and bathroom.

Outside, the house will have two car parking spaces and two cycle spaces.

New flats on Bridge Street (240417)

Properties in Bridge Street, Caversham. An owner wants to make shopfront improvements and turn one of the buildings into a seven person home of multiple occupation. Credit: Google Maps

The owning company of a property in Bridge Street, Caversham has applied to add extensions to make it a seven-person home of multiple occupation.

The building currently has a shop at ground level, and appears to be a two-bed flat on the upper floors, with living facilities on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second floor.

A floorplan for the project to turn a property in Bridge Street, Caversham into a seven person home of multiple occupation (HMO). Credit: BH Designs

The planned for project would involve adding three storeys worth of rear extensions, giving space to create three double beds at ground level, and two each on the first and second floors.

The shop would also be improved to make its entrance wheelchair accessible, with a separate entrance for future occupants who would benefit from eight cycle spaces.

Nine new homes for Emmer Green (240403)

The site layout for the plan for nine homes off Lyefield Court and Kidmore End Road in Emmer Green. Credit: Arktec

The developer Knole Homes has applied to build nine new homes in Emmer Green.

The new homes would surround Brindles, an existing house accessed from the  Lyefield Court retirement properties and next to Emmer Green Primary School.

The project would create seven detached homes and two semi-detached homes contained in one new building.

To create space, part of Brindles would be demolished and altered, turning it into a smaller but still sizeable five-bedroom home.