Cosmo in Reading set to be replaced with 103 flats

For two years, there has been a plan to demolish the building occupied by the Cosmo Global Buffer in the town centre and build an 11-storey tower block in its place.

The project involves demolishing the Cosmo four-storey building and a previously Grade II listed townhouse in Friar Street that was last occupied by 9 Round kickboxing gym which has been closed for several years.

Developers the Shaviram Group will create a newly made restaurant for Cosmo on the ground floor to occupy once the build is completed.

READ MORE: REVIEW: We tried out Cosmo buffet in Reading and it needs to stay

The plan was discussed by Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee.

Councillor Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) noted that "an enormous amount of work" has been done by council officers in the years since the plan emerged in 2022.

He said: "There's no doubt in my mind that this will be a big improvement to this area.

"What we've got now is a degraded heritage townhouse which doesn't retain heritage features and a late 20th-century building of doubtful architectural merit."

The townhouse, 39 Friar Street, was listed as it dates back to 1780-1800 and is the only remaining building in what used to be a terrace.

However, it was de-listed in 2018 as it was no longer deemed of architectural merit.

The 9Round kickboxing gym at 39 Friar Street, Reading next to the Cosmo Global Buffet. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

Cllr Davies went on to argue that the design of the tower will fit in with completed apartments in the Station Hill development.

New apartments will be situated from the first floor to the 10th floor, with a rooftop terrace on the 7th floor and a green roof and solar panels on the top 11th storey.

Of the 103 apartments provided, 19 will be studios, 22 will have one-bed, 56 will be two-beds and six three-bed flats will be created.

Of those, 33 will be made available at affordable private rent levels, made up of five studios, seven one-beds, 19 two-beds and two three-bedroom flats.

The committee praised this housing mix.

Cllr Doug Cresswell (Green, Katesgrove) said: "There's a lot to like about this proposal, the housing mix is good, the affordable housing ratio is good, the housing mix looks like it is matched on affordable and non-affordable, so that's all great."

However, he did say that he was 'uncomfortable' that the majority of the affordable homes would be clustered in the lower floors of the building.

He stressed that those living in affordable housing should have access to the rooftop terrace on the seventh floor, which was secured by a planning condition.

The project was unanimously approved by councillors on Wednesday, September 4.

The decision was made on the condition that a section 106 legal agreement between the developers and the council be agreed.

The S106 will determine financial contributions the Shaviram Group will make to pay for infrastructure in the area.

If an agreement is not reached, the council's director of planning has been given the power to refuse it.

You can view the application by typing reference PL/22/0933 into the council's planning portal.