A former barber in Wokingham town centre will be ‘brought back to life’ after owners won permission to convert it into a cafe.
Kerry Roberts in Alexandra Court in Wokingham town centre closed in August last year. Now Brown Bag cafe, which already has premises opposite, wants to move in.
Wokingham Borough Council planning officers said the change would make a ‘positive contribution’ to the town centre by filling an empty unit.
Officers said: “By making use of an otherwise vacant store, the proposal would establish itself as a destination while increasing trade for other units within the town centre, thus enhancing the viability of the wider area.
“On this basis, the proposal would make a positive contribution and is therefore acceptable.”
Plans submitted to Wokingham Borough Council say the cafe owners want to install patio doors to open onto an outdoor seating area.
Installing new outdoor seating will mean raising and levelling the ‘patio area’ just outside the shop front. No fixed tables, chairs or umbrellas will be installed.
A planning statement submitted with the application said: “The proposed changes are extremely minor and will crucially bring a vacant commercial unit in a busy town centre walkway through Wokingham back to life.”
