New small-scale home projects have been given the go-ahead at sites in walking distance of Reading town centre this week.

One of these projects involves the conversion of offices into flats, whereas another will see a house built in the confines of a walled garden in Oxford Road.

Further down that road, a short-lived vegan food business is set to be converted into a nail salon.

These projects feature in the latest planning decisions made by Reading Borough Council.

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

Flats at office building approved (PL/24/0085)

Approved third floor plans for Havell House, Queens Road, Reading. Credit: PentangleApproved third floor plans for Havell House, Queens Road, Reading. Credit: Pentangle

Unused offices along Queens Road are set to be converted into flats.

Havell House is an office building located in Queens Road, and is currently home to the Laser Express opticians on the ground floor.

While the rest of the building is made up of offices, the owners have won approval to convert the third floor into one one-bedroom flat and one two-bedroom flat.

Access to the floor is provided by a staircase and a lift, with each flat coming with a separate living space and bathroom. The project was approved on October 11.

New home near town centre clears planning hurdle (PL/23/0319)

The approved plan to add a three bedroom home to the rear of Rox Borough House in Oxford Road, Reading.The approved plan to add a three bedroom home to the rear of Rox Borough House in Oxford Road, Reading. (Image: Spencer Architecture)

A new three-bedroom house will be built within the walled garden of a Grade II listed building.

Rox Borough House in Oxford Road dates back to 1859, and is currently the home of No5 Young People's Counselling Service.

The garden to the rear of 101 Oxford Road which fronts onto Howard Street, Reading. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting ServiceThe garden to the rear of 101 Oxford Road which fronts onto Howard Street, Reading. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The approved project involves building a two-storey, three-bed home on the grounds of Rox Borough House that was previously used as a car park.

The application was discussed at a planning applications meeting last September, where councillors unanimously approved it.

A section 106 legal agreement was signed on October 15 meaning the development can officially go ahead.

Nail salon coming to Oxford Road (PL/24/0910)

The Vegan Box, a short-lived food business in Oxford Road, Reading, now set for conversion into a nail bar.The Vegan Box, a short-lived food business in Oxford Road, Reading, now set for conversion into a nail bar. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

A shop that was occupied by a short-lived vegan food business is set to become a nail salon.

Approved plans show the unit in Oxford Road with nail tables for four customers and pedicure seats for two customers.

Streetview imagery suggests the address was unoccupied for around four years before Vegan Box was opened.

The approved plan to convert Vegan Box in Oxford Road, Reading into a nail bar with nail tables for four customers and pedicure seats for two customers.The approved plan to convert Vegan Box in Oxford Road, Reading into a nail bar with nail tables for four customers and pedicure seats for two customers. (Image: Radon86)

But the company apparently closed in the summer, clearing the way for the ground floor unit to be converted into a nail salon.

The project was approved on October 14.

Replacement of garage with outbuilding approved (PL/24/1093)

A homeowner in Sherwood Street, West Reading has won approval to replace a garage with an outbuilding. 

A planning officer determined the replacement building comes under lawful use, therefore the application was granted on October 11.