Back in 2021, a development company won approval to transform The Meadway Precinct in Tilehurst creating new shops and 266 flats.
However, there has been no movement on the project since then, effectively meaning the project has fallen through.
Elsewhere, a plan to add replace a paper sign with a digital screen has been refused, and slow progress is being made to bring a long-vacant historic building in the town centre back into use.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
The Meadway Precinct redevelopment no longer going ahead (PL/19/1496)
The Meadway Shopping Centre in Tilehurst. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service
The transformation of The Meadway Precinct in Tilehurst is no longer going ahead as permission for the project has expired.
The precinct currently contains dozens of shops, takeaways and flats spread across five buildings.
Development company Chillingham Ltd won outline permission to variously demolish and refurbish the existing buildings to create new facilities and 266 flats.
READ MORE: Meadway Precinct overhaul untouched years after planning approval is granted
The project was approved by the council’s planning applications committee in October 2021, but failed to enter a Section 106 legal agreement to allow it to go ahead.
Although the plan was never officially refused, the permission effectively timed out on December 12, meaning any developer will have to submit fresh plans.
Digital screen on the side of former pub building refused (PL/24/1345)
A plan to replace the global poster sign with a digital screen at the old Wellington Arms in Whitley Street, Katesgrove has been refused. (Image: UGC)
A plan to replace a paper sign with a digital screen on the side of the former Wellington Arms in Katesgrove has been refused.
Wildstone Estates had applied to replace the existing global advertising sign with a screen on the side of 70-72 Whitley Street now occupied by the Turkish Halal Food Centre.
Planning officer Gary Miles judged that the screen would distract drivers, with the plan being refused on December 6.
The Wellington Arms was previously occupied by Greggs, which closed this year.
Progress for bringing pub and historic buildings back into use (PL/24/1514)
The former Coopers Arms in Market Place, Reading, which is set to be brought back into use. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Progress is being made on bringing The Coopers Arms pub and the building it occupies at 27-32 Market Place back into use.
READ MORE: LOOK INSIDE Reading pub set to be brought back to life
A project to refurbish the pub and two adjoining retail units, and create eight flats in the buildings were approved in November last year.
Now developer Watercrown has won approval for the measures that will be taken to protect bats in the buildings, which date back to circa 1611.
Shed for children’s home approved (PL/24/1441)
An indicative sketch of the location of the approved storage shed at Pinecroft Children’s Home in Monksbarn, Whitley. (Image: Duckworths Arboriculture Ltd)
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) has won approval to build a shed at the Pinecroft Children’s Home in Monksbarn, Whitley.
The shed will be installed in the garden of the children’s home.
The project had to be approved by the council’s planning applications committee on December 4 as BFfC is owned by the council.
Councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) said: “I’m very much in support of this, it doesn’t do any harm to anybody, and it resolves the problem of an unsafe attic for storage.”
