The conversion of the Great Brighams Mead offices in Vastern Road into 110 flats was meant to have been completed this summer.
However, the project has been hit with delays.
Elsewhere, progress is being made on flats that replace a chapel, and planning hurdles have (mostly) been cleared for a JD Gym to be built at a retail park.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
Delay for conversion of former Three mobile offices into 110 flats (PL/24/1320)
Great Brighams Mead in Vastern Road, near Reading town centre. Credit: Google Maps
Back in June 2021, planning permission was granted to convert the Three mobile office building Great Brighams Mead into 110 flats.
The project was approved under permitted development rules, on the condition that the conversion be completed by June this year.
READ MORE: Plan to add 100 hotel rooms to former Three offices in Reading refused
However, little work has been conducted on the project by the owners Kings Oak Miami.
Although work began in May 2022, the company fell into administration. The project is being carried forward by the administrators, with an extension for the completion of the works to June 2027 being granted.
Progress made on new flats to replace chapel (PL/24/0218 and PL/24/0573)
A CGI of the street scene for the approved project to replace the Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel in South Street, Reading with eight flats. (Image: Colony Architects)
Progress is being made on replacing a chapel with eight new flats near the town centre.
The Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel in South Street was demolished in 2017.
The site of the former Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel in South Street, Reading, which is set to be replaced with eight flats. (Image: Google Maps)
The plan to replace it with two studios, four one-bed and two two-bed flats (application reference 211063) was approved in July last year.
Recently, developer Pednor Property won approval for details relating to the construction, landscaping and the protection of birds and bats.
Planning hurdles mostly cleared for JD Gym at retail park (PL/24/1425)
The Reading Link Retail Park. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Most of the planning hurdles have been cleared so the construction of a JD Gym at the Reading Link Retail Park can take place.
The project to build the gym on the car park of the site was approved by councillors in June.
READ MORE: Check out what ‘cutting-edge’ gym will look like once complete
The development was granted on the condition that materials and sustainability measures be approved by the council’s planning department.
While many of these details have been approved, a final sustainability assessment is required, a condition that has not been discharged as the construction has not begun yet.
Conversion of town centre offices into two flats approved (PL/23/1639)
The new Smart Tech shop being prepared for opening at 88 Broad Street in Reading town centre. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service
The first and second floors of the building that houses the Smart Tech shop in Broad Street will be converted into two one-bed flats.
The ground floor of the building was previously occupied by the EE telecoms company.
After years of vacancy, the unit was converted into Smart Tech in January.
The latest news is that the first and second floors will be converted into one-bed flats after planning approval was granted on Wednesday, December 4.
