Decision details

201650/FUL - 111a Watlington Street

Decision status: Refused

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

Part demolition of existing industrial building and erection of a three-storey end of terrace building of 6 flats (C3 use) (amended description)

 

The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above application.  An update report was tabled at the meeting which set out information on the affordable housing contribution and included the proposed basement plan which had been omitted from the original report.  The update report amended the proposed s106 Heads of Terms to specify an affordable housing Contribution of £99,175 and recommended an additional condition for the unit mix and layout to be as proposed.

 

Comments and objections were received and considered.

 

Objectors Evelyn Williams, Chair of the Reading Conservation Area Advisory Committee, and Nigel Spawton, on behalf of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, and Steven Clarke representing the applicant, attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this application.

 

Resolved –

 

          (1)      That the application be refused;

 

(2)      That the Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services be authorised to finalise the reasons for refusal, to include the following issues raised by the Committee: the loss of a non-designated heritage asset building of townscape merit with light industrial use (not compliant with Policies EN3 and EN4 of the Local Plan); a discordant design and massing that would not preserve the character of the Conservation Area (not compliant with Policy CC7 of the Local Plan); poor quality of outlook and insufficient light levels in the proposed basement accommodation (not compliant with Policy CC8 of the Local Plan); the failure to secure an acceptable Affordable Housing contribution in the absence of a completed s106 legal agreement.

Publication date: 30/09/2021

Date of decision: 08/09/2021

Decided at meeting: 08/09/2021 - Planning Applications Committee

Accompanying Documents: