Proposal                   Proposals to extend the Reading Borough Council Offices on Bridge Street to enable the accommodation of the relocated Reading Central Library function, currently on Kings Road, Reading, and provide an enhanced Customer Services reception. Site is currently use class E, proposal to co-locate with library use - class F1. 

Recommendation  Application Permitted

Proposals to extend the Reading Borough Council Offices on Bridge Street to enable the accommodation of the relocated Reading Central Library function, currently on Kings Road, Reading, and provide an enhanced Customer Services reception. Site is currently Sui Generis use class, proposal to co-locate with library - use class F1.

The Committee considered a report on the above application.  An update report was tabled at the meeting which set out information on public consultation, land use: layout and circulation/co-location of facilities, design, trees and ecology, and transport and parking.  The update report also set out a number of clarifications and corrections to the original report.  Three additional conditions were recommended regarding submission of a feasibility study and/or schedule of works for the installation of the ‘Cartwheeling Boys’ sculpture, energy use, and no occupation of the development before completion of all access improvements.

It was reported at the meeting that the applicant had confirmed that six street trees could be accommodated on site.  The proposed s106 agreement for off-site tree planting was therefore no longer required and it was recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions and informatives. 

It was also reported at the meeting that an additional condition was recommended to require submission of a tree planting plan and full details of landscaping and biodiversity net gain prior to commencement of development.  Clarifications regarding the public art proposals and accessibility were also reported.

Comments were received and considered.

The meeting was adjourned between 7.07pm and 7.16pm in order for officers to seek further information from the applicant on issues raised by the Committee. 

Following the adjournment, it was reported that an additional condition regarding submission of a scheme of car park access was recommended.  It was also recommended to amend the condition regarding access improvements, as set out in the update report, to change the trigger of the condition to be submission of a timetable for phasing of works for access upgrades.

Resolved –

(1)          That, pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992, the carrying out of the development 231495/REG3 be authorised, subject to:

a.    the conditions and informatives as recommended in the original report, with the additional conditions as recommended in the update report except that the access improvements condition be amended as recommended at the meeting, and

b.    the two additional conditions recommended at the meeting regarding landscaping and biodiversity net gain, and car park access;

(2)               That details of the proposed car park access scheme be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee for approval.