Waterfront Square Plans Submitted

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…

Continue reading “Waterfront Square Plans Submitted”
Waterfront Square Plans Submitted

September Round-Up: Arcades, Libraries, Pubs and more

A little while has passed since my last post, and in that time there have been many snippets of regeneration news that I could have been updating you on. Here’s a whistle-stop run through, so read on as I cover the potential reuse of three closed town centre pubs; plans for cells at Reading police station, if not yet the gaol; a closer look at the library; and maybe a few blocks of flats just for good measure.

Continue reading “September Round-Up: Arcades, Libraries, Pubs and more”
September Round-Up: Arcades, Libraries, Pubs and more

Purple Turtle Playhouse Plans Revealed

CGI of the stage at Purple Turtle Playhouse

When Reading’s Purple Turtle crops up in conversation, you always know it’ll be accompanied with a smile and a story. And now its owners are writing another chapter with the submission of plans for a new venue behind an adjacent vacant property on Gun Street. The new room, which will be connected through from the existing bar, will bring more live events, such as bands, comedy and theatre into the town centre. Owner Greg Muden explained further that the new space will enable us to put on a much more diverse programme of live entertainment. It will be a good asset for the community, for events such as Reading Fringe, Are you Listening?, Readipop and Oxjam.”

Continue reading “Purple Turtle Playhouse Plans Revealed”
Purple Turtle Playhouse Plans Revealed

Oracle East – Sizing it up

New concept proposals have been revealed for the eastern part of The Oracle, comprising the former Debenhams and current cinema sites. The idea has been put forward for consultation, but here I explore whether we can really afford to be too demanding in our response.

Continue reading “Oracle East – Sizing it up”
Oracle East – Sizing it up

Bowl Central, Caversham Road

A new tenant has been announced for the former Dawson’s Music shop on Caversham Road. Subject to licensing and planning, “Bowl Central” would be the third venture for the south-coast operator and would feature “Pins & Prizes” – aka bowling and arcade games.

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Bowl Central, Caversham Road

Blue Collar Opening Countdown… Interview

Glen Dinning from Blue Collar

Saturday 12th March brings the long-awaiting opening for Blue Collar Corner on Hosier Street. Owner Glen Dinning kindly took a few minutes to update us on the preparations…

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Blue Collar Opening Countdown… Interview

Queen Victoria Courtyard Scheme Unveiled

On these pages, I’ve frequently emphasised the need to drive Reading’s offer forward, to keep the visitors from neighbouring towns coming, and therefore to underpin the overall vitality of the town centre. Yet I reflect now that perhaps the biggest competition to those aims is not Oxford, Basingstoke and Newbury, but rather Amazon, Deliveroo and Netflix. Will the Covid lifestyle stick, or will there be a collective clamour to return to the physical, or the “in real life”? Thankfully, whilst lockdowns have shut us all indoors, that hasn’t stopped the investors and architects forming new plans to haul us off our sofas and back into town.

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Queen Victoria Courtyard Scheme Unveiled

After Covid…

sunrise over Kenavon Drive, Reading
Sunrise over Reading. Photo by Caroline Gratrix, Viva Photography

Readers may know this blog promotes the town centre. In the current Covid predicament, clearly the economic health of the high street is far surpassed as a concern by the public health risks of the pandemic. This is not a rallying call to head to the shops at the present time. But perhaps it is a good point to be asking questions about how we might plan for when the sun rises on a post-Covid Reading.

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After Covid…

Union Food Market to Target the Mall

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This is my first post since the tragic events at Forbury Gardens. It’s a desperately sad time, and others have contributed far more eloquently than I could. There have been tremendously moving tributes and reflections. Is it too soon to be talking about anything else in Reading? My reason for doing so is prompted by one social media post I saw suggesting that many ‘safer’ open spaces exist locally and that people should use those instead. I think we must disagree. People should not be fearful of going out or visiting our town. And as we emerge from Covid-19 lockdown, I hope people will show the defiance to carry on, to maintain and even enhance the energy, diversity and spirit that makes Reading a great place to be.

Continue reading “Union Food Market to Target the Mall”

Union Food Market to Target the Mall

Parks and Recreation

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In the current circumstances, it doesn’t feel comfortable to be backing proposals for high rise flats whilst comfortably holed up in a suburban family home with a garden. The advantages of city living: being in the thick of the action, near entertainment, transport links and workplaces, have been entirely nullified for an extended temporary period. Towns and regions as concepts are largely irrelevant as only your street and your country really count, together with access to local open space.

Yet it’s been a busy few months of local development news since my last update so here are some of the main stories, inevitably viewed in the context of the Covid-19 crisis. Continue reading “Parks and Recreation”

Parks and Recreation