A plan for the £13.7 million project to transform Reading's main theatre has been submitted.

The project involves the demolition of unused areas and an extension to create a new auditorium, practice space and more.

Elsewhere, progress is being made on a project to build a new secondary school in Reading, and the replacement of a funeral director near the town centre.

You can view the applications by typing the references in brackets into the council's planning portal.

Hexagon plan submitted (240063)

Reading Chronicle: Concept art of a new eatery and cafe at The Hexagon Theatre in Queens Walk, Reading. Credit: Reading Borough CouncilConcept art of a new eatery and cafe at The Hexagon Theatre in Queens Walk, Reading. Credit: Reading Borough Council

The council has submitted its own plan for a £13.7 million project to upgrade The Hexagon.

Unused areas will be demolished and extensions to the building will create a new studio auditorium, flexible rehearsal space, and a community studio with workshop space.

Concept sketches show a cafe with the building being wheelchair accessible. Initial designs which called the extension the 'Hexbox' appear to have been dropped by the council.

The project has been enabled after the council won government levelling up funding, which it is using to upgrade The Hexagon and bring the Central Library into the council offices.

Progress on new secondary school (240059)

Reading Chronicle: Construction work being undertaken on the River Academy secondary school. Credit: Maiden Erlegh TrustConstruction work being undertaken on the River Academy secondary school. Credit: Maiden Erlegh Trust

Good progress is being made on the project to build a new secondary school in Richfield Avenue, next to the Rivermead Leisure Centre.

The project was approved by the council's planning applications committee in June 2022.

Work on the site has begun, with hopes for the school to open in September this year.

Construction contractors Bowmer + Kirkland have provided interim evidence that the school complies with BREAMM building standards.

Demolition project for Co-op Funeralcare near town centre (240070)

Reading Chronicle: The Co-op Funeralcare set for demolition. Credit: Google MapsThe Co-op Funeralcare set for demolition. Credit: Google Maps

A developer has submitted evidence for the project to replace the former Co-op Funeralcare building in Southampton Street with a building containing 19 apartments.

The project was approved at a planning applications committee meeting in September 2022, on a series of conditions.

READ MORE: Reading funeralcare to go forever to be replaced with 19 apartments

One of these was that the applicant Perfect Property Developments must produce a construction method statement and archaeological statement before work can start.

Both of these documents have been submitted to the council's planning department.

Refresh for astroturf pitch at school (231860)

Reading Chronicle: Designs for the extended astroturf pitch at Leighton Park School.Designs for the extended astroturf pitch at Leighton Park School. (Image: Smiths Sports and Civils)

Leighton Park School in Shinfield Road has retrospectively applied to refresh and extend an astroturf pitch.

Justifying the project, a planning agent from Savills stated that the pitch has become worn after some 25 years of use, causing ruts to the surface and pooling water that causes a 'risk of injury'.

Because the application is retrospective, some or all of the work has been conducted.

The project involves extending the pitch and mitigating works.