A DEVELOPERS bid to extend an Reading office building into a six-storey block of flats has been rejected over fire safety fears - but part of the plans can still go-ahead.
The Regus office building in Thames Valley Park, Earley, will be converted into 62 flats.
But Thames Valley Park Investments wanted to build a total of 94 flats, with an additional 32 provided by building two new floors. This would take the building to the height of 19.6 metres, and a total of six storeys including the basement.
Plans were submitted in two parts, with the first seeking approval for the conversion of the current building, and the second bidding to build two extra floors.
While the first part was approved by Wokingham Borough Council, the second part pertaining two new floors was refused due to fire safety concerns.
In its decision report, Wokingham Borough Council said that the scheme had ‘inadequate means of escape from the building’ in case of emergencies. Because of this, developers hadn’t ‘suitably addressed the fire safety impacts on the intended occupants of the building’.
Two new external staircases were proposed to go along with the extra floors.
But consultee Health and Safety Executive raised concerns over the plans. According to fire safety standards, external stairs ‘should not form part of an escape in a building of this height’.
While the extension was refused, many flats will still be provided, as the conversion of the office building was approved.
52 of the flats will be one-bed, and 10 will be two-bed.
Car owners would be able to make use of 136 car parking spaces, with the developer also providing 94 cycle parking spaces.
A supporter of the plans said it was a ‘perfect’ location for new flats based on access to public transport and Reading town centre.
One service that could be used by future occupants is the Thames Valley Park and Ride, which provides a shuttle between the business park and the Royal Berkshire Hospital. It is also a stop on the RailAir bus which runs between Reading and Heathrow Airport.
The business park is currently home to companies including Microsoft, Websense and BBC Berkshire.
It is also a potential site for the new Royal Berkshire Hospital. The hospital in Reading has been promised a rebuild and relocation, with two possible locations being identified in Thames Valley Park and Thames Valley Science Park.
However, it is not known whether this will go ahead, as the government is currently reviewing the plan the new hospital is under.
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