A Greggs could still be built in Reading despite a plan for the drive-thru bakery being rejected due to concerns over traffic intensification and loss of green space.
The Greggs drive-thru would be located at the junction of Oxford Road and Scours Lane, which serves as an entry to the Stadium Way Industrial Estate.
A plan for the bakery was rejected last year over the loss of grassed green space that the drive-thru facility would have occupied.
There were also fears that the drive-thru would cause traffic queues at the nearby Norcot roundabout.
Now, developers Cube Real Estate are progressing with an appeal to get the drive-thru approved.
So far, comments relating to the appeal have reached their deadlines, but no decision has been made yet.
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Kentwood Labour councillors Glenn Dennis and Mark Keeping objected after 21 residents responded to a survey they held raising concerns about traffic queues.
Cllr Dennis explained: “We disagreed with the development based on traffic impacts on the Norcot roundabout, which is sensitive to changes in traffic flow and interruptions.
“We were not against Greggs per se, it’s where it is and the loss of green space.”
He added neighbours were most concerned about the intensification of traffic in the area, and what could happen to two existing food stalls that currently occupy Scours Lane.
Barry Elford, who owns one of the food businesses, objected to the plan, stating that the coming of the drive-thru would be “heart wrenching” for him.
He also argued that there are several food outlets in the surrounding area, with his burger van, Georges kebab van, the KFC at Reading Retail Park and the 3Bs café all being in close proximity.
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Defending the scheme, planning agent Barry Kitcherside argued Cube Real Estate, which owns the Stadium Way Industrial Estate, has been “working tirelessly” to enhance the estate and retain the amount of businesses occupying units there.
Occupants of the estate include Screwfix, Halfords, the Double Barelled Brewery and The Climbing Hangar indoor rock climbing facility, which opened earlier this year.
Mr Kitcherside said the owners want to provide a food offering on-site so staff working in the estate don’t have to ‘migrate’ off-site to get lunch or dinner.
He sent the letter to planning officers at the council on the eve of the plan being rejected at a meeting on September 7, 2022.
Mr Kitcherside also sent the letter to former Labour Katesgrove cllr Rose Williams, who retired from the council in May that year.
You can view application documents, including the reasons for refusal, by typing reference 220637 into the council’s planning portal.
The progress of the appeal can be tracked using reference APP/E0345/W/22/3313424 into the planning inspectorate website.
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