Further to Minute 22 of the meeting held on 12 July 2021, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the proposed adoption of the Design Guide for Shopfronts Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), for use in determining planning applications for development in Reading.  Attached to the report at Appendix 1 was a Statement of Consultation on the Draft Design Guide to Shopfronts SPD and at Appendix 2 the Draft Design Guide to Shopfronts SPD (with changes tracked following consultation).

The report noted that the Draft Design Guide for Shopfronts SPD gave further detail to supplement the policies in the Reading Borough Local Plan to ensure that shopfronts contributed positively to the streetscene throughout the Borough.  A draft had been approved at the meeting on 12 July 2021 (Minute 22 refers) and consultation had taken place during July to September 2021, with a total of 15 responses received.  A Statement of Consultation summarising the process and the responses was included as Appendix 1.  Following the consultation, a revised version of the SPD had been prepared taking account of the responses received, which was attached to the report at Appendix 2 for approval.

Resolved –

          (1)      That the results of the consultation on the Draft Design Guide to Shopfronts Supplementary Planning Document, undertaken during July to September 2021, as set out in the Consultation Statement at Appendix 1, be noted;

          (2)      That the Design Guide to Shopfronts SPD (Appendix 2) be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.