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Plan to expand popular club paused for visit

Google Google Street View image of the 18th Century office building and the Purple Turtle from across Gun Street. They are both three storeys tall and the Purple Turtle is painted purple.Google
The venue's planned expansion into the building on the left is still expected to be approved later

A plan to expand a popular town centre bar into a listed building next door has been paused after councillors decided they wanted to visit before approving it.

Purple Turtle, in Gun Street, could use the vacant Grade II listed office building and add a three-storey extension to the back of it.

Reading Borough Council's planning officers said it would provide "tangible benefits", including the restoration and use of the vacant building.

But Councillor Richard Davies, who sits on the council's planning committee, asked for the application to be deferred to a later meeting so councillors can visit it before deciding. All committee members agreed.

"I do want to say...that this application is a good application in general – I don't want anyone to think that it's not," Mr Davies said.

"I just think that a visit and addressing questions that I have and others may have would really help in determining this."

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