Author: Reading-On-Thames

Station Hill Phase 3A – Latest plans reviewed

Reading-On-Thames, 9 Comments
Aerial view of Station Hill phase 3A

Plans went on display last week for the next phase of Station Hill in Reading town centre. After a generation of inactivity on the site, recent years have seen things progress apace. We’ve watched 598 apartments go up in two blocks on the site of the old Friar’s Walk shopping centre, with a new pedestrian bridge and route through to the station lined with a slowly emerging cluster of food and drink outlets. A gleaming new office tower, now 80% let, occupies the plot closest to Reading station, with its lobby playing host to the exhibition. Let’s take a look through the latest proposals.

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Station Hill Phase 3A – Latest plans reviewed

Reading to Heathrow Rail – will we finally get there?

Reading-On-Thames, , , 6 Comments
Reading Station square

Reading’s economic fortunes are underpinned by its proximity to Heathrow. With a new runway set for take-off, there’s renewed interest in future rail connections to the airport. This is a long-running saga, with various rival schemes proposed that best suit various locations or interests. A firm proposal, to be funded by the airport as part of its expansion project, is apparently on its way, giving us a final opportunity to indulge in speculation. Will Reading finally get its long-awaited direct train, or will it be shunted into the sidings once again? Let’s look at our chances…

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Reading to Heathrow Rail – will we finally get there?

Sapphire Plaza Plans Revealed

Reading-On-Thames7 Comments
CGI of Sapphire Plaza regeneration from the north

New concept proposals have emerged for a regeneration of Sapphire Plaza and Royal Court to the east of Reading town centre. The details were revealed in submissions to the local planning process by the developer’s agent. This is the same consultation process that revealed the Gladman housing project to extend Caversham that I covered the other day. A quick look at the plans:

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Sapphire Plaza Plans Revealed

Gladman proposes 1200-home Caversham extension

Reading-On-Thames, , 18 Comments
Gladman brochure cover

As part of the local planning process, new documents from prospective developers have been published on Reading council’s website. It appears the new materials were made available in May, so it’s with apologies that it took me so long to get round to clicking the link to “2 of 6 Regulation 19 representations F-to-K.pdf“. If you scroll down to page 81 you’ll find a sub-document submitted by Gladman entitled “Play Hatch & Emmer Green – A vision for land North of Reading”. We’d seen reference to this title before, but I think this is the first appearance of the document in the public domain.

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Gladman proposes 1200-home Caversham extension

Reading regeneration schemes – Spring Update

Reading-On-Thames, , 5 Comments
Domain Reading apartment scheme under construction

As the days lengthen and mercury starts to climb, life is springing out of the ground. Although this year, as far as Reading’s major construction projects go, we have some cases of delayed germination. Right now, there’s only one crane following the sun around the town centre sky, despite no end of seeds planted. Let’s take a look at what’s going on…

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Reading regeneration schemes – Spring Update

There’s going to be a mayor, but a mayor of where?

Reading-On-Thames, , , , , 9 Comments
A map of the area likely to become the Thames Valley Strategic Mayoral region

A frenzied process of provincial match-making is in full swing, with central government having issued an edict that the country must be chopped up into regions, each of which will elect a mayor to receive devolved executive powers. City regions and combined authorities in the larger cities have operated this model for some time. Now the rest of England is to play the same game, but with the added fun of a new rule: regions should have a population of at least 1.5 million. Rather than carve up the map in Whitehall, the government has amusingly thrown it over to the nation’s Town Halls to figure it out for themselves, missing the glorious opportunity for a TV show format in the process. So where’s Reading ending up? Let’s speculate…

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There’s going to be a mayor, but a mayor of where?

Town Centre Improvement Proposals – Do they hit the target?

Reading-On-Thames, , , 19 Comments
Reading Minster artists impression

A new strategy has been published by the council that looks at how best to enhance the town centre environment. The plans involve resurfacing pedestrian areas, reallocation of road space, and considerable landscaping proposals. It’s a creative-heavy document covering a design strategy, rather than specific funded and timetabled works, and it will go to a consultation initially. I’ve pulled out some of the imagery and details below.

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Town Centre Improvement Proposals – Do they hit the target?

Waterfront Square Plans Submitted

Reading-On-Thames, , 9 Comments

Another regeneration project has been submitted for planning in recent weeks. The developer has paid for the Gold package with its architects as we get a vast array of CGIs from every conceivable angle. This must be Reading’s most photographed building despite not yet being built. You can almost hear the disquiet from neighbouring buildings: “Who’s this Johnny-come-lately with sixteen selfies?”
Clearwater Court pipes up, “I’ve got two cylindrical fire escapes yet you don’t see me carrying on like that”.
In amongst the abundance of imagery, I’ve pulled out a few details for you…

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Waterfront Square Plans Submitted

Reading Local Plan Update

Reading-On-Thames, 16 Comments

Last week the full council meeting was presented with a hugely detailed update to the local plan. The documents published included lengthy to and fro between the council and prospective developers around specific sites. Given the relatively light coverage in local media, I’ve pulled out some quotes that offer glimpses into the schemes that might be coming forward – or very much not in some cases – over the coming few years. I hope it’s useful…

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Reading Local Plan Update