Mixed-use Oxford Road development to go before planners

A mixed-use scheme proposed for Oxford Road in Reading is to go before planners next week.The application concerns the former private members club, the Curzon Club.The site has been vacant since 2020 when it closed due to “lack of membership and the need for significant repair works”.Lined up is demolishing the venue and bringing forward a part-four, part-five and part-six-storey building containing a retail unit, parking and servicing at ground floor with 30 residential units on the upper floors.The application is for outline permission, with landscaping reserved.A report drawn up ahead of Reading Council’s planning committee said: “There would be some minor adverse impacts to neighbour’s living conditions, the loss of the use, the building and a lack of ground floor level landscaping.”However, given the significant benefits of the proposal, most notably the provision of high-quality housing and a policy compliant affordable housing offer, it is considered that the proposals would, on balance, be acceptable.”Officers have applied a suitable planning balance when reaching this conclusion. As such, this application is recommended for approval.”