Blue Collar Corner, the street-food market in Hosier Street, has been given permission to stay for five more years until 2031 (PL/26/057). It opened in 2022 and had temporary permission that was due to end in December; the council says it is happy with how it runs.
You can view each application by typing the reference into the council's planning portal.
Conversion of nightclub into convenience store (PL/26/1125)
Prablin Stores Ltd has applied to turn the Neighbourhood bar & kitchen in Friar Street (formerly Matchbox) into a convenience shop. The unit briefly opened as Neighbourhood in 2020 before closing and reopening. Restaurants, cafes and convenience stores all fall within planning "Class E", and the design and access statement says alcohol will be sold off the premises while the conversion will be "maintaining a customer-facing commercial activity appropriate to the established function of Friar Street".
Hotel near Festival site wins permission to work on protected trees (PL/26/0979)
The Premier Inn on Richfield Avenue, near the Reading Festival site, has permission to trim protected trees. Work includes reducing and removing willow branches and pruning overhanging branches above a fire escape, which the council's tree officer approved.
Greenlight building finished off (PL/26/1106)
The new Greenlight industrial building on Bennet Road is effectively complete. It replaces the old Bennet Court offices after around a year of work and has been issued a BREEAM Interim Certificate. Plans to convert Bennet Court into 49 flats were dropped in favour of the Greenlight development, approved in September 2023.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
Upcoming Council Meetings During Annual Leave
Petition Against Reading Data Centre Gains Momentum
