Reading homeowner ordered to demolish extension...

A Reading homeowner has been forced to take down an addition to their house that was constructed without their consent.

Although the extension gave the Whitley house a rear annexe, a government planning inspector has determined that

it was built illegally.

There are also plans to turn offices in one of the town’s busiest districts into a takeaway restaurant.

Entering the reference in brackets into the planning portal of Reading Borough Council will allow you to examine

each application.

Homeowner ordered to demolish extension (240320)

An expansion that was constructed without authorisation has been ordered to be demolished by the owner of a semi-

detached house on Chagford Road.

The inhabitants now have an annexe thanks to a sizable rear expansion.

After learning that the addition had been built without authorisation, council planning enforcement authorities

issued a notice directing its demolition.

John Morrison, a government-appointed planning inspector, supported the council despite the homeowner’s appeal,

thus the case has been returned to the council’s enforcement team for further action.

Former offices in Oxford Road will be brought back into use as a takeaway.

The offices served various functions, including being occupied by a cafe and an accountancy firm at the address, next

to the former Grovelands Baptist Church, which is now the Victory @ Reading Hope Centre.

One of the units provided at the address has been taken over by a baguette cafe.

It is understood the plan involves bringing the remaining unit into use as a hot food takeaway, a conversion which

requires planning permission.

Recommending approval, planning officer Marcelina Rejwerska judged that use of the unit as a takeaway would not

have a material impact on the character of the traffic in the area.

The project was approved on Friday, February 7.

In the town centre, modifications to the new walling and a gateway for a service yard have been permitted.

In July 2023, council members accepted the plan to build stronger security measures, which include extending the

existing wall and replacing the present pedestrian entry with two electric gates.

Since then, the brick and suggested gates have changed as part of the makeover.

On Monday, February 10, the council’s planning department deemed these modifications satisfactory and gave its

approval.

The company in charge of Green Park has applied to replace a media screen underneath its tower in Longwater

Avenue.

Once complete, the display panel will be installed with the Green Park logo illuminated in white.

Work is currently being undertaken on the tower by contractors.

Reading homeowner ordered to demolish extension