Waitrose has been refused permission to conduct reconstruction and restoration work on a wall at its Wokingham store.
It has applied for Listed Building consent from Wokingham Borough Council for the proposed reconstruction and restoration works to car park boundary walls, with associated landscaping, at its Rectory Road store.
In refusing the application, Wokingham Borough Council noted: “The proposed reconstruction and restoration works to the car park boundary walls would cause harm to the designated heritage asset due to the loss of historic fabric, for which no clear and convincing justification has been provided.”
The walls are believed to date to the late 18th or early 19th century, and are adjacent to the Grade-II listed Montague House on Broad Street.
A statement from the council’s heritage build officer also noted how the proposals were considered to lead to a level of loss of significance to the original historic walling, in terms of the extent of the original that is to be taken down and rebuilt, but also in the inevitable change in the appearance of the wall.
Waitrose applied for permission as it said the work was “ .. required to ensure the safety for users of the car park following a further assessment of the condition of the walls by a structural engineer.”
The proposals, it said, represented the minimum work necessary in the light of the condition and damage of the structures.
The decision was made on March 6.
