Old church in Reading could be demolished and replaced with flats

The building in East Reading used to serve as a Methodist Church before the Sikh community acquired it 48 years ago. Soon it could be knocked down and replaced with apartments.

In the town centre, the conversion of a former benefits office has been approved, as have changes to the long-dormant Bristol & West Arcade.

Further afield, slow progress is being made on turning a historic building into flats.

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

Replacement of Sikh temple with flats (PL/24/0867)The site plan for the apartment blocks to replace The Sri Guru Singh Saba Gurdwara in Cumberland Road, East Reading.The site plan for the apartment blocks to replace The Sri Guru Singh Saba Gurdwara in Cumberland Road, East Reading. (Image: JEA Architecture)

An application has been submitted to demolish the Sikh temple in Cumberland Road, East Reading and replace it with two buildings containing 14 one-bed flats.

Of those, eight would be contained in a new apartment block facing Cumberland Road, with the remaining six flats contained in a block to the rear.

No off-street car parking would be provided as part of the development, with 16 cycle spaces being provided for the new occupants.

The temple was previously a Methodist Church before the Sikh community acquired it in 1976.

Transformation of benefits office approved (PL/23/1657 and PL/23/1658)

The former personal independence payment (PIP) consultation centre and Weight Watchers centre at the corner of Kings Road and Duke Street in Reading.The former personal independence payment (PIP) consultation centre and Weight Watchers centre at the corner of Kings Road and Duke Street in Reading. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

The transformation of the former Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment centre in the town centre has been approved.

The ground floor assessment centre at the corner of Kings Road and Duke Street was relocated to the former Post Office in Market Place.

The Just Momo Nepalese restaurant which is now open at Abbey Corner in Reading town centre.The Just Momo Nepalese restaurant which is now open at Abbey Corner in Reading town centre. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Plans for the conversion of the ground floor into four commercial units and advertising consent were approved on November 15.

Two units are currently occupied by the Just Momo Nepalese restaurant and a new corner store run by Gulinder Singh Chopra, who took over the nearby Todays Express store last year.

Ground floor changes for Bristol & West Arcade (PL/24/0526)

The Bristol and West Arcade in Friar Street, Reading town centre. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting ServiceThe Bristol and West Arcade in Friar Street, Reading town centre. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Changes at the ground floor of the Bristol & West Arcade in Friar Street have been approved. 

The arcade has been vacant for several years, with the upper floors in the process of being converted into 20 flats. 

READ MORE: Progress made on conversion of Bristol & West Arcade offices into flats

Now, its owning company Mountley Ltd has won permission to conduct a range of works to bring it back into use. 

The project involves changing the layout to front-facing retail units and creating amenities for future occupants such as a new staircase and bin store.

Work on converting historic building into flats (PL/24/1291)

The Southern Gas Works Social Club in Gas Works Road, Reading. Credit: Reading Borough CouncilThe Southern Gas Works Social Club in Gas Works Road, Reading. Credit: Reading Borough Council

A developer who has a project to convert the Gas Works Building near the Kennet has won confirmation that development is taking place.

Little work has been done since a project to create 20 apartments there was approved in 2016. The building was locally listed in June 2022.

READ MORE: Old gas works building receives local protection

However, evidence has been provided that the side wing of the building has been demolished, which has been treated as enabling work.

The council’s planning team issued a legal certificate allowing work to continue on November 19. 

Reading Chronicle | Town Centre