The most important planning applications decided in Reading this week

Huge UFC gym 

A huge UFC gym will replace the old Toys R Us in south Reading. Planners gave it the final rubber stamp this week, after councillors voted to grant permission on November 13. 

The gym will offer fitness classes and mixed martial arts training. Developer Aberdeen Standard Investments say the gym will create 55 jobs.  

The Toys R Us closed in April 2018, after the chain went into administration. 

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The Pond House pub on the Oxford Road

New trees, hedges and shrubs will be planted in the communal garden behind The Pond House pub on the Oxford Road. 

Ground floor apartments behind the pub have patio doors opening onto a communal garden, but there are no private sitting areas. 

People looking at the apartments have been ‘reluctant’ to buy them without private patio spaces, according to planning documents.

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Two-storey extension

A two-storey side extension will be built on a house on Western Elms Avenue near St Edward’s Preparatory School. Nearby flats were sent letters asking for their views, but nobody replied. 

Three trees to the front of the house, two yews and an oak, are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. The extension will mostly by behind the property or on top of the existing garage, so there will be little impact on the roots of the trees. 

Offices converted into flats

Offices on Bridge Street in Caversham could be converted into two two-bed flats. But local resident Dave Kenny told council planners he is concerned about bin storage. He said: “There is an ongoing problem with litter and rubbish from the existing properties in this part of Bridge Street. 

“Where will the residents put their rubbish and how will it be collected? At the moment unbagged rubbish gets piled up next to the street by the entrance to the yard, where it remains for months.” 

Seventh-day Adventist Church 

A Seventh-day Adventist church on Portman Road can build an emergency staircase on the outside of the building. The church is by the big Tesco and first got planning permission in 2009.

The new external staircase will be built behind the building, and just used to escape in case of an emergency. The existing bicycle storage will have to be moved, and one car parking space will be lost.