Blue Banana's Shopfront Dispute Finally Resolved!

A clash over a shopfront in Reading town centre has been settled, and a few other local planning applications have been approved. You can view each decision by typing the reference into the council's planning portal.

Clash over piercing and fashion shop resolved (PL/26/0968 and PL/26/0969)

Blue Banana in Broad Street will get a new shopfront after earlier signage was rejected. The piercing studio opened in October last year, replacing Ann Summers. The current black lettering will be swapped for white. The business refused a request for a timber shopfront but agreed to change the letters, allowing the signage to be approved on October 21.

Replacement of former test centre moves a step closer (PL/25/1188)

The former driving test centre site in Elgar Road South, Katesgrove is fenced off after the building was demolished in the summer. Crucial information about land contamination has now been supplied to the council ahead of an assessment needed before an apartment block of 16 flats can be built. Driving test staff moved to Pacific House in Whitley in June last year.

Roof repairs for church in Caversham (PL/26/0723)

Vital repairs at St Peter's church in Caversham Court Gardens have been approved for three of the 12 roofs on the Grade II* listed building. Works include replacement of felt, battens, tiles and lead flashing. The project was approved on October 20, with conditions to protect roosting bats.

Flat at school to be converted into office space (PL/26/0810)

A caretaker's flat at Alfred Sutton Primary School in East Reading, spread across the first and second floors, will be converted into staff office space. The flat's established use is for a caretaker and cannot be separated from the school, but consent has been granted for both floors to be used as offices.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter