Plan to replace Reading hotel with 14 homes shot down

The developer, Mr Sarwan, was hoping to knock down Tower House hotel in Wokingham Road, East Reading, and put two apartment blocks in its place.

However, the plan has been refused by Reading Borough Council.

Although there was a possibility that the proposal would be considered by the council’s planning committee, in the end the decision was delegated to its planning department.

The plan was recommended for refusal by council officer Ethne Humphreys.

The officer concluded that there would be some benefit to replacing the hotel, such as the provision of 14 apartments to assist with the borough’s housing targets.

Additionally, she praised energy efficiency and sustainability measures contained in the plan, such as its incorporation of insulated walls, efficient glazing and solar PV panels that would have been installed on the roof of the two buildings.

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But Ms Humphrey’s summary states: “However, there are considered to be a number of significant shortfalls, such as the proposed scale, massing and detailed design deficiencies which results in the proposals being harmful to the character and appearance of the area.

“In addition, there are significant concerns over the impact on the living accommodation of existing nearby occupiers.”

The plan had been opposed by people living in neighbouring College Road, who raised concerns about the new apartments overlooking onto their properties.

If approved, the development would have involved the construction of two buildings: one four-storey building with eight flats and one three-storey building containing six flats.

A sketch of the two apartment buildings that would have replaced the Tower House at 70-78 Wokingham Road, Reading. Credit: The Keen Partnership

Ultimately, the application was refused by James Crosbie the council’s assistant director of planning.

Mr Crosbie’s refusal letter states the new buildings would be a “cramped overdevelopment” of the site which would harm the amenity of 1 College Road located nearby.

He also criticised the housing mix. The new buildings would have provided four one-bed, six two-bed and three three-bedroom apartments in total.

But Mr Crosbie argued that the plan failed to provide enough three bedroom flats, and would therefore not adequately meet the borough’s housing needs.

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The rejection of the plan means the 33 room hotel -that has views of Palmer Park on the opposite side of Wokingham Road- will remain, for now.

Mr Sarwan was served with a refusal letter on Friday, January 6. He has the right to appeal the decision within 28 days of the letter being issued.

You can view the refused application by typing reference 211714 into the council’s planning portal.