frontage to be revamped

THE ‘unattractive’ front of a Reading town centre building will be revamped as part of a plan to convert it into apartments.

Soane Point in Market Place will see its upper floors turned into 144 studios.

Reading Borough Council approved the plan by developers Tene Living, which adds 38 apartments to the initial proposals over two storeys.

Planning agents TP Bennett acknowledged that the existing front looked ‘unattractive’, and it will be replaced with a mix of red, grey and beige brick.

The plan was initially discussed at Reading Borough Council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, January 11, but a decision was deferred so that more details about the materials that would be used.

Members of the committee were shown four options for how the façade could look.

Councillors preferred the multi-coloured option three.

Cllr Micky Leng joked: “I prefer option three, speaking as someone who is colour blind.”

This option was earlier endorsed by cllrs Josh Williams (Green, Park) and Tony Page (Labour, Abbey).

The decision in January was also deferred for more details about waste management, solar panels and electric vehicle charging on the site.

On the issue of waste management, planning officer Matt Burns said those living on upper floors would throw their waste in ‘chutes’ on their floors, which transfers this rubbish to the bin store at basement level.

Genral waste, recycling and food waste would be collected on a weekly basis by a private contractor.

Tene Living will add 61 solar panels to the roof, which is estimated will generate 25% of the energy use for the additional 38 apartments.

Cllr Andrew HornsbySmith (Labour, Church) said: “That’s useful, I don’t think it’s fantastic, but it is certainly a contribution, and that’s welcome.”

Twenty car parking spaces provided at basement level, two will be electric vehicle charging points, with the remaining spaces equipped with necessary wiring for future expansion, which Cllr Hornsby-Smith called “very welcome.”

The planning committee unanimously approved the façade changes and additional 38 apartments application on Wednesday, February 1. The application can be seen by typing reference 221446 into the council’s planning portal.