Reading landlord appeals after council orders riverside studios to be torn down
An appeal has been lodged after Reading Borough Council ordered the demolition of a one‑storey block of six studio flats in Canal Way, a short walk from the River Kennet Path and the Fisherman’s Cottage.
Six people currently live in the building, which was completed in 2022 by Alex Gooch, the former owner of the Fisherman’s Cottage before the pub passed to new owners that year.
Reading Borough Council says the rooms were only approved as guest accommodation, ancillary to the pub. The council says it first contacted Mr Gooch in September 2024 about suspected planning breaches and issued a notice in November 2025 requiring remediation within nine months. The building remains in use for private rental, which prompted enforcement action and the owner’s subsequent appeal.
Mr Gooch has appealed and says the move would make tenants homeless. He said: "My company owned the Fisherman’s Cottage from 2014 to 2022. "We currently own the property at Canal Way, adjacent to the pub, comprising six studios rented to single working people, which the council now wants us to demolish! "These units have provided much-needed furnished starter units at affordable rents (£750-950 per month). "The rooms are fully serviced with underfloor heating, wifi, are well-located and sustainable with an air source heat pump, and all the modern, high-quality kitchen fittings needed today. "The occupiers are very happy, there have been no complaints raised or council problems over the last three years. "There is a housing crisis in Reading and the country. "So it’s shocking to get an enforcement notice telling us to demolish these six rooms, as they are no longer 'ancillary' to the pub. "The tenants do not want to leave and nobody wants another six homeless people needing council housing, surely? "It seems the enforcement team are totally incoherent with Housing Policy."
A council spokesperson reiterated the planning position. The spokesperson said: "The current use of this building for private accommodation is different to the planning permission which was approved in 2020, which was for six guest accommodation rooms as an ancillary building to the pub. "We first contacted Mr Gooch in September 2024 on suspected breaches of planning control. "A notice was issued in November 2025 following a detailed investigation, which required the remediation of planning breaches within a nine-month period. "The building is still being used for private rental accommodation, however, which has resulted in enforcement action being followed through and a subsequent appeal by the owner, where he will have the opportunity to present his case to the inspector. "The council awaits the findings of that appeal before deciding on next steps."
You can track the appeal using reference APP/E0345/C/25/3377056 on the council’s planning portal.
Local background: Cigdem Atkins and her partner took over the Fisherman’s Cottage as leaseholders in 2019 and bought the pub in 2022.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
