Historic pub in Reading due to be brought back to life

In the town centre, a project to bring the long-closed Cooper Arms back into use has been approved.

Meanwhile, in East Reading, a brewery has applied to reflect a pub’s historic namesake.

These are two of the plans that have been decided on or submitted in Reading this week.

You can view each application featured below by typing its reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.

Plans for closed pub in town centre approved (220545 and 220546)

Reading Chronicle: The approved ground floor for the most recent development in Market Place, Reading. The old Coopers Arms pub would be retained, with retail units located either side of it. Credit: JDW ArchitectsThe approved ground floor for the most recent development in Market Place, Reading. The old Coopers Arms pub would be retained, with retail units located either side of it. Credit: JDW Architects

The Cooper Arms which has been closed for years, is set to be brought back into use as a pub as plans for 27-31 Market Place have been approved.

Watercrown Bracknell, the developers, have won permission to renovate the pub and refurbish two retail units in the closed town centre buildings.

READ MORE: Plans for long closed pub in town centre submitted

The remaining floors of the building will be turned into eight apartments.

Of those, one will be a three-bed flat, four will be one-bedroom and three will have two-bedrooms.

The buildings are Grade II listed and date back to the 17th Century.

Changes planned at East Reading pub (231576 and 231523)

Reading Chronicle: The Palmer Tavern in Wokingham Road, Reading. Credit: Google MapsThe Palmer Tavern in Wokingham Road, Reading. Credit: Google Maps

Greene King, which owns The Palmer Tavern, has applied to make changes to its branding and garden.

The change to the branding would involve a new sign being installed to reflect the Tavern’s namesake George Palmer, the prominent Reading businessman of the 1800s, whose statue stands in Palmer Park.

Reading Chronicle: The proposed new George Palmer gibbet sign for The Palmer Tavern in Wokingham Road, East Reading. Credit: Ashleigh SignsThe proposed new George Palmer gibbet sign for The Palmer Tavern in Wokingham Road, East Reading. Credit: Ashleigh Signs

The building would also get new two-tone grey paint.

In the garden, Greene King wants to install a new timber shelter in the garden, replace fencing and conduct paving works.

Conversion of flats into houses in Tilehurst rejected (230764)

Reading Chronicle: The house in Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst, where a plan for extensions was refused. Credit: Google MapsThe house in Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst, where a plan for extensions was refused. Credit: Google Maps

A project to convert two flats into homes using extensions in Kentwood Hill has been refused.

An application was submitted that would have made changes that would make up two two-bedroom homes in place of two one-bedroom flats.

These would have been created by a side extension that would neighbour the Tilehurst Club building.

However, the scheme was rejected as the council’s planning department judged the development would have created an ‘unacceptable standard of accommodation’ for future occupants.

Cladding removal and replacement at apartment block (231112)

Reading Chronicle: Queens Wharf, 47 Queens Road, central Reading. Credit: Ashton Architecture LtdQueens Wharf, 47 Queens Road, central Reading. Credit: Ashton Architecture Ltd

The owning company of the Queen’s Wharf apartments near the town centre have achieved lawful development consent to replace potentially dangerous cladding.

The project will involve replacing the existing insulated render system and upper metal cladding with new fire compliant insulation and render with powder coated panel cladding system to match the existing installation.

Works will also include replacing balcony decking and timber handrails in further fire safety measures.

Reading Chronicle | Town Centre