News

Old Sorrentos building could be turned to apartments and a business

March 14, 2013

A neglected town centre building could become apartments and a commercial venture.

Planning permission is being sought to demolish 65-67 Peach Street, which contained Sorrento’s Italian restaurant which closed in 2011, and build nine flats and a ground-floor business.

Flaherty Properties Limited say the new structure would be the same two-and-a-half storey height with a rear garden area and patio leading to parking and cycle storage.

The application states the existing structure is in a very poor state with damp, rot, drainage and roof issues.

A Crowthorne resident who has objected
to the plans states: “It is not in keeping
with the town and we do not need another retail unit – especially not one which
is destroying a historic building.”

The application proposes two units of affordable housing with a combined section 106 contribution of £21,087.78.

View the plans at www.wokingham.gov.uk/planningcontrol – reference F/2013/0195. The deadline for comments is April 3.

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

@right said fred.

Last time I made a similar comment in this paper I had it removed-but you would think that is exactly the type of thing a local paper should be investigating....

HatsOfDoom
15/03/2013 at 08:57

(thankfully though I think the unit would be too small for a Tesco!)

alex_f, Wokingham
14/03/2013 at 15:47

I certainly hope we don't see the blue Tesco sign there... though I guess we are getting used to seeing so many of them now...! It's actually quite an attractive position for a Tesco Express unfortunately (near lots of (soon to be) flats, near lots of other flats and homes going London Road way, etc).

I didn't actually go to Saporis (I moved to Wokingham about the time it rebranded from Sorrentos). I always intended to visit, only my better half and I prefer curries so did the rounds at the many Asian restaurants around first. Shame i won't get the chance now. Good luck to the family whatever they do.

Did you read about Tesco buying Giraffe (the restaurant chain)? I feel it's a tad scary. Moving even more of the high street under one roof - eek.

alex_f, Wokingham
14/03/2013 at 15:32

Thanks alex_f... yes it will significantly tidy up the area although a blue Tesco sign mayl be a turn off!! note to self.. read all planning documents carefully!!

Stig2, Wokingham
14/03/2013 at 14:56

Stig2 - there's a great artist's impression in one of the documents for what it will look like. Is that cladding style similar to the new homes on the cricket field.

Indeed lots needs to be done to almost everything in that part of town. Luckily some of the buildings on the same row (which are lovely buildings, just boarded up) are being converted to flats and hopefully be tidied up once again.

I reckon it'll be a Tesco express. Not that I want a Tesco there. Just that 1 Tesco is far below the average per town nationally ;)

alex_f, Wokingham
14/03/2013 at 12:37

Renovation of that end of Peach Street is urgently needed. Preferably it should be done in a way that widens the pavement

PoneRana, Wokingham
14/03/2013 at 11:34

We have been going to Sorrento's and subsequently Sapori's (same family), for over 20 years, until it closed only recently. The food was always excellent and we often had family do's there. So it is misleading not to mention Sapori's. Nevertheless, it does look run down from the outside but none of us have ever had any food poisoning from the damp, rot and roof issues. My fear is that when it is rebuilt it will look like the ghastly office block (Fserv?) opposite and similarly ugly flats next door. Worse still the 'commercial' unit may be an estate agent in a prime wkm town position. I will continue to look at the plans to further assess what the new buildings will look like.

Stig2, Wokingham
14/03/2013 at 10:08

Destroying a Historic building!? The place is currently an eyesore and left to rot, and I think from the plans it will be significantly improved. It's such an important building as the first retail unit when coming into Wokingham from London road.