Former office near Reading town centre to be converted into a shop

Russell House along Oxford Road has been dormant for a number of years, with a project now allowing it to be turned into a store.

Elsewhere a previous research and development facility is due to be replaced

These projects and more were discussed at the council's planning applications committee meeting on Wednesday, July 24.

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

Conversion of offices into new shop (240475)

The design for the shopfront plan to convert Russell House at 117-119 Oxford Road, Reading from an office into a store. (Image: Bluebird Design & Surveying)

A vacant office near the town centre can be converted into a shop.

Russell House at  117-119 Oxford Road previously served as the Leightons Opticians, with its owner applying for it to be turned into a store.

Richard Bennet Baker Street Area Neighbourhood Association (BSANA), speaking at the meeting, expressed hopes that the new occupants would 'actively manage' the store to 'stop the front being a dumping ground for furniture' and 'try to manage the rear which has become a gathering spot for drug dealers'.

Six people will be employed, four full-time and two part-time.

The project involves replacing the eastern window with a door accessed via a ramp to provide step-free access into the shop.

There were concerns about refuse collection, with officers clarifying that the waste would be collected by a private collection service to the rear of the site, accessed from Zinzan Street.

The project was unanimously approved by councillors.

Replacement industrial building in Whitley (231254)

The approved elevation plan to replace the former Thales research and technology facility in Worton Drive, Whitley with a new industrial facility. (Image: HTA Architects)

A former research and development facility in Whitley can be demolished and replaced with a new industrial unit.

The building at the Worton Drive industrial area was previously occupied by Thales multinational IT company, which occupies offices in Green Park.

Now the building will be demolished and replaced with an industrial unit with flexible uses, which can be used for industrial purposes, storage and distribution, and research.

The approved site plan to replace the former Thales research and technology facility in Worton Drive, Whitley with a new industrial facility. (Image: HTA Architects)

Future employees will make use of a flexible amount of 46-69 car parking spaces, depending on the use of the site and 36 cycle spaces.

Although 34 trees will be removed, the developer will plant an additional 42 trees on the site, resulting in a net gain of eight trees.

The project was unanimously approved by councillors.

Appeal over plan to add two-bed house to existing home dismissed (230301)

A home in Alford Close, Tilehurst, where a plan to add a two bed home to it has been dismissed on appeal. (Image: Google Maps)

An appeal against the council's decision to refuse a plan to add a two-bed house to an existing home in Tilehurst has been dismissed.

Stafford Developments were hoping to build a two-bed house on the end of a four-home terrace in Alford Close.

However, the project was rejected by a council planning officer, arguing it was a 'cramped and convoluted overdevelopment' with little garden space.

The refused plan to add a two bedroom home to an existing three bed house in Alford Close, Tilehurst. (Image: Stafford Developments)

An inspector dismissed an appeal into the decision, stating the development would create unacceptable harm tp the character and appearance of the area.

The result of the appeal was reported at the council's planning meeting.