Caversham Park, a stately mansion, has been given the go-ahead to become retirement homes — four years after the project first emerged. Beechcroft Developments has won final permission to transform the site into a retirement living complex (PL/22/0409).
Other recent planning decisions in Reading include a new tanning and beauty salon in Caversham, a church conversion in Tilehurst and a refused flats scheme near Oxford Road. You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Tanning salon takes over former restaurant (PL/25/1211)
The unit on Prospect Street that housed the Happy Diner has been empty since November 2022 and will become a beauty and tanning salon. Planning officer Ethne Humprheys judged: "The use would maintain the vitality and viability of the centre. It would not harm the character of the area, would not harm neighbouring amenity and would be acceptable from a transport perspective." The project was approved on February 5.
Tilehurst Club to become Christian worship space (PL/25/1260)
The former Tilehurst Club in Kentwood Hill — a members-only social club established in 1906 and a community hub for over a century — closed in March 2024. Berachah International Christian Fellowship, a Nepali Christian organisation currently based at Providence Chapel in Oxford Road, has permission to convert the building for its services and activities.
Printing works conversion refused (PL/25/1771)
A plan to turn the single-storey building formerly used by Valpee Printers in Tidmarsh Street (off Oxford Road) into two one-bed homes was rejected. The application failed because the applicant did not demonstrate that sufficient light would be provided to habitable rooms.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
