The Oracle in Reading rooftop changes given the go ahead

Earlier this year, the owners of The Oracle applied to demolish a glass atrium for a lift at one of the centre's two car parks to provide more spaces. 

That project has since been approved.

Elsewhere, long-running plans to convert the offices above a funeral directors in Tilehurst have been given the go ahead. 

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

Oracle rooftop changes approved (PL/24/1283)

The entrance to The Oracle Holy Brook Car Park in Reading town centre. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

A glass atrium that was used for the lifts at the top of the Holy Brook car park at The Oracle will be demolished to create space for 10 more parking spaces. 

Once the demolition is undertaken, the change will bring the total amount of spaces in the car park to 605.

But changes also mean that access to the car park from the former House of Fraser unit will be blocked off. 

The plan for 10 more car parking spaces at the Holy Brook Car Park at The Oracle in Reading town centre. Credit: Urban Edge

While planning officer Jonathan Markwell noted that the changes will result in reduced access to the car park for shoppers, ultimately he judged that the impact would be minimal. 

Mr Markwell wrote: "Whilst this will reduce the number of different access points between the car park and the lower floors of The Oracle, it will not negatively impact on access, with nearby alternatives remaining available."

The project was therefore approved on October 21. 

Conversion of offices in Tilehurst into three flats (PL/24/0330)

Offices above the Co-op Funeral Care at 104-108 School Road, Tilehurst will be converted into flats. Credit: Google Maps

Long-running plans to convert the first-floor offices above the Co-operative Funeralcare in School Road, Tilehurst into flats have been approved. 

The development will create three flats that will each come with a double bed, living room and essential cooking and bathroom facilities. 

The approved plan for three one-bed flats at the first floor of the Co-op Funeralcare in School Road, Tilehurst. (Image: Shaun Tanner Architecture and Planning)

Assessing the project, planning officer Anthony Scholes found that each of the flats were above the minimum space requirements for one-bed homes. 

The conversion was approved on October 22. Notably, no parking spaces are provided. 

Changes to Katesgrove student flats plan approved (PL/24/0993)

The clear out at the derelict Woodley Arms pub in Waldeck Street, Katesgrove when it once stood. Credit: Tevye Markson, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Changes made to student flats that have replaced a pub in Katesgrove have been approved. 

Developers won approval to replace the Woodley Arms pub in Waldeck Street with 38 student flats on appeal to the government's planning inspectorate in 2018. 

The flats will be contained in two buildings which are currently under construction. 

The Woodley Arms site in Waldeck Street, Katesgrove as seen in June 2023. (Image: Google Maps)

Recently, the developer won approval to replace render with composite cladding, alter the windows, add guttering and alter the roof for one of the buildings.

All of these changes have been made during the construction phase, gaining approval on October 22. 

Flats coming above Caversham dentistry (PL/22/1681)

An approved plan to convert floors above a dentists in Prospect Street, Caversham into a two-bed flat. (Image: Shaun Tanner Architecture and Planning)

Offices above a dentistry in Caversham are set to be converted into a two-bedroom home. 

The project applies to the first and second floors above the Prospect Street Advanced Dentistry. 

The first floor will be converted into a kitchen, living room and shower room, with two double-beds located on the second floor, with one of these coming with an ensuite.