A controversial project to build a new Greggs drive-thru along a busy road in Reading is moving ahead.
Earlier this year, a development company won approval for the drive-thru chain bakery near an industrial estate despite Reading Borough councillors rejecting it over traffic and habitat concerns.
Elsewhere, an agreement has finally been made to demolish houses in Caversham and replace them with retirement apartments, and a building that was previously occupied by vets will be converted into a school.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference into the council's planning portal.
Greggs along busy road moving ahead (PL/24/0852)
The project to build a drive-thru Greggs on a patch of grassland near the Stadium Way industrial estatein Scours Lane is progressing.
The development was controversially approved by the government planning inspectorate this Spring, despite councillors rejecting it in September 2022.
Urban Edge, which is undertaking the project, applied to change the wording of a condition relating to ensuring that the bakery meets sustainable building requirements.
Council planning officer Ethne Humphreys clarified the change was to assist the developer with time constraints, to ensure that deadlines for the project are met.
Ultimately the change was accepted on September 9.
Hurdle for new retirement homes cleared (PL/22/0189)
A planning hurdle for a project to demolish houses in Caversham and replace them with retirement apartments has finally been cleared.
The development company was granted permission to replace the house 205-213 Henley Road with 55 retirement apartments contained in two buildings at a planning applications committee meeting in June last year.
The plan was granted on the condition that developers Henley Road Ltd enter into a section 106 legal agreement with the council, outlining the money the company will pay to the council for the services it provides.
That agreement was finally reached on September 9. It includes a £75,000 contribution to affordable housing.
It means the development can go ahead, with all apartments created reserved for those aged 55+.
Conversion of vets into school approved (PL/24/0093)
The Trinity Christian School has won permission to convert the former Medivets in London Road into a primary school.
Approval means that substantial internal modifications will be made to make the building suitable for teaching, clearing the way for the school to teach a maximum of 60 pupils.
The conversion project was given the go-ahead on September 3.
The school is currently located in Glebe Road, Katesgrove, with Medivets maintaining a practice in Lower Earley.
Flat plan above new store withdrawn (PL/24/0571)
A plan for flats above a new store along Basingstoke Road has been withdrawn.
The ground floor unit was previously occupied by Signarama, which has now been converted into a Nisa Local convenience store, which is open from 7am to 10pm each day.
The building owner had applied to convert the first floor into housing, but this was withdrawn on September 10.
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