A plan to convert offices near Reading town centre into a court has been given the go-ahead.
A plan to transform offices near Reading town centre into a court has received the green light.
The Sovereign House building, previously used by a housing association, will now become a Tribunal Court managed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), handling employment, immigration, and tax disputes.
This decision was made during a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s planning committee, where members welcomed the project to repurpose the vacant site.
Councillor Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) remarked, “This is a site that has been boarded up for a little while, so it’s really good to see this coming forward for a community civic use, on behalf of His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service.”
However, Councillor Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) highlighted the need for more robust education and skills plans for the area. He expressed that while construction jobs are important, the focus should also be on ongoing employment opportunities at the court.
Leng pointed out the lack of public disabled parking spaces, noting the car park has only four designated spots available.
Planning officer Anthony Scoles confirmed that the MoJ will look into suitable disabled parking and collaborate with Reading’s economy agency on job opportunities.
The project, which was unanimously approved on September 10, includes converting the interior to feature seven hearing rooms, 10 judicial offices, a members' room, a judicial lounge, and various other facilities.
For more details, visit the council’s planning portal and search for reference PL/25/0616.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
