34 flats planned on hotel site
But Beenham Parish Council objects to scheme over height and parking concerns
PLANS have been submitted to convert the Beenham Comfort Inn – a 3-star hotel located in Bath Road – into 34 dwellings.
The applicant – owner Reading West Aparthotel Limited – is seeking permission to develop two blocks of flats, including a new building.
Each flat will have between one and three bedrooms, and provision has been made for amenity and parking space.
In the application, the planner states: “The proposal will have a well-designed landscaping scheme creating an environment that maintains and promotes local bio-diversity.
“The green areas within the site will enhance the distinctive visual character of the local area through use of native planting and that are also easy to maintain.
“The proposal is for 34 new flats, 70 per cent private housing and 30 per cent affordable housing, to satisfy local authority requirements for affordable housing and catering to the growing housing demand of the region.
“Due to the convenient location between Reading, Newbury and good transportation links, the site provides good employment opportunities and options for its residents, thus improving quality of life and standards of living.
“The construction process presents the opportunity to support apprentices, encouraging the enhancement of education.
“This in turn could develop high skills set, pushing economic growth and creating a better standard of living in the long run.”
Under the proposals, the existing hotel complex would be renovated significantly, with the entrance and dining areas demolished to make way for facilities, including a communal garden.
In September, Beenham Parish Council registered its objection to the plans, emphasising that, while it supported the affordability aspect of the scheme, this was outweighed by other factors.
Its letter of objection states: “The proposal is an overdevelopment of the site due to the total number of units being proposed and the excessive height of the new build.
“The proposed housing would attract families and there is limited open green space provided onsite and none in the vicinity of the development.
“Insufficient parking provision has been included which could lead to the service road being used for parking, which potentially would be very dangerous.
“The proposed development would cause a significant increase of traffic at this dangerous junction of the A4.
“The application makes no reference to traffic flows joining and leaving the A4 which is already a major cause of concern due to the junction on the opposite side with Beenham Hill.”
Concerns of potential traffic issues have also been voiced by Padworth Parish Council.