Improvements for homes in Reading given the go ahead

One project will see a garage converted into a wetroom, with more improvements being made to a home in Tilehurst.

The other involves adding an extension to create space for a wheelchair user in Caversham.

These projects were approved at a Reading Borough Council planning applications committee on Wednesday, November 6. 

Elsewhere, an evangelical Christian group that occupies a historic church has won approval to create a connection between the church and its hall. 

Enhanced living facilities for council tenant in Tilehurst (PL/24/1212)

A semi-detached house in Conwy Close, Tilehurst. The internal garage will be replaced with a wet room. (Image: Google Maps)

The council's housing team has won approval to convert a garage into a wet room and create open plan family living space at a home in Conwy Close, Tilehurst.

The semi-detached house was one of 57 homes created in a council development completed in August 2019. 

The project was unanimously approved by councillors.

An approved ground floor plan for the conversion of an internal garage into a wet room and other improvements at a council house in Conwy Close, Tilehurst. (Image: Reading Borough Council property services)

Councillor Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) said: "This is one of the properties within the last 10 years within the council's new build council house programme, and it's good to see that we are changing a property in response to the needs of the resident."

Cllr James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) added: "I'm still struck since becoming a cllr that I know I can trust that the borough council applications to be of high quality."

While conceding the changes were for the current council tenant, he argued that the adjustments will be beneficial for future tenants.

Cllr Moore said: "I think it's useful even in the future to have these in our housing stock."

Ground floor accommodation for wheelchair user in Caversham (PL/24/1092)

A semi-detached council house in Ian Mikardo Way, Caversham, where there is an approved plan to add an extension for a wheelchair user. (Image: Dawn Architectural Services)

The council's housing team has also won permission to add an extension to a semi-detached house to create better living space for a wheelchair user in Ian Mikardo Way, Caversham. 

The extension will create space for a single bed and a wet room for a disabled occupant. 

Matt Yeo (Labour, Caversham) lead councillor for housing, said: "I welcome this, I think it's a good example of the work the council does for residents." 

The project was unanimously approved. 

Connecting building for church approved (PL/23/1433)

Grovelands Church in Oxford Road, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

A plan to create a 'connecting building' between a church and its hall in West Reading has been approved.

The project involves adding the building which will connect Grovelands Church in Oxford Road to its detached church hall. 

An approved elevation plan for a connecting building for the RCCG Victory at Reading at the former Grovelands church in Reading. (Image: Pont + Wils Architects)

The extension will be used to host a Sunday school and a community kitchen to feed people, benefits which contributed to officer approval of the scheme on November 4.

The church was saved from demolition after a plan to replace it with 10 flats was refused in 2019. It is currently run by the RCCG Victory at Reading evangelical group.