Plans Revamped for Flats at Former NatWest

Changes to flats plan at former NatWest and other town planning updates

Plans for 15 flats at the former NatWest in Market Place have been tweaked, while separate proposals in Reading town centre and Tilehurst have been refused. Plus: a shop on Broad Street Mall wants new signage.

Changes to create 15 flats at former NatWest building (PL/26/0652 and PL/26/0993)

A developer has adjusted the scheme approved in September 2024 to turn the closed NatWest building into 15 flats. The conversion includes two two-bed and two one-bed flats in the former bank, with rear works to create a three-bed, eight two-bed and two one-bed flats. Changes cover altered rear entrance arrangements, reconfigured cycle and refuse access, an enlarged basement, a larger two-storey extension to create access from 11-12 Market Place, and tweaks to the fourth-floor/roof building line, plus other minor alterations. The building closed after NatWest moved to The Oracle in January 2020.

Conversion of town centre offices into flats refused (PL/26/0798)

An application to convert the upper floors above a barbers in Kings Road into three self-contained flats has been rejected. The building is currently empty while construction works are ongoing. A previously approved four-storey extension with a 'green wall' could not be implemented, a planning agent said, and the conversion was refused because it "fails to provide adequate housing and does not comply with the rules for office conversion into flats".

Decking for home in Tilehurst refused (PL/26/0774)

Planning permission for decking at the rear of a semi-detached home in Tilehurst has been refused. Work has partly begun on the sloped garden, but planning officer Gary Miles found the decking to be "an obtrusive and incongruous addition which negatively affects the privacy of the neighbours". The application was refused on August 6.

New advertising for Savers store (PL/26/1054)

The Savers on the outside of Broad Street Mall has applied for refreshed signage. The changes are minor: the Savers logo would move to the left with 'health', 'home' and 'beauty' lettering to its right. The shop is accessible from St Mary's Butts.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter