Temporary Christmas ice rink at Hills Meadow, Caversham, Reading
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Reading Planning Applications Committee on 8 Oct 2025.
What was proposed
The application proposed a temporary ice rink, marquee and side stalls for a Christmas festival, open to the public from 11am to 10pm.
“The Proposal 3.1. The proposed development is seeking planning permission for the temporary erection of an ice rink, marquee structure and ancillary side stalls in connection with Christmas festival, for a period of time not to be before 13 th October 2025 and not to extend beyond 16 th January 2026. The event is to be removed by 16 th January 2025.”
Officer report
Earlier permissions
Temporary Christmas festival permissions were granted for the site in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“- Event Safety Management Plan 2025/2026 - Planning Statement prepared by ET Planning received on 01/09/2025 4. Planning history 4.1. Application History of Proposal Site PL/24/0898/FUL - Temporary erection of ice rink, marquee structure and ancillary side stalls in connection with Christmas festival, for a period of time not to be before 12 October 2024 and not to extend beyond 19 January 2025 for a period of 1 year- Application permitted on 6/10/2024 PL/23/1094/FUL -…”
Officer report
Main planning issues
The assessment considered the principle of development, design, living conditions, flooding, the natural environment, transport and other matters.
“Appraisal 7.1. The main considerations are: • Principle of Development • Design • Safeguarding Amenity • Flooding • Natural Environment • Transport • Other Matters…”
Officer report
The committee vote
The recorded vote was 4 before the committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to the reported conditions and informatives.
“That planning permission for application PL/25/1225 (FUL) be granted, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Reading Planning Applications Committee minutes, 8 October 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Reading's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Reading
- Date
- Wednesday 8 October 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Reading committee decisions →
This committee's year
6 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.