At the weekend, proposals were exhibited for a redevelopment of the former Reading police station with a residential led project of 205 build-to-rent apartments. I went along and asked a few questions, so read on for some further details, images of the proposals and a link to the developer’s feedback survey.
Continue reading “Flint Street – former Police Station Regeneration Revealed”
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.
Continue reading “Station Hill Phase 3A – Latest plans reviewed”
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…
Continue reading “Reading to Heathrow Rail – will we finally get there?”
It’s a good while since my last round-up post, so read on below for a quick rundown of Reading Town Centre news. As usual there’s plenty going on…
Continue reading “Autumn Town Centre Update”
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…
Continue reading “Reading regeneration schemes – Spring Update”
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…
Continue reading “There’s going to be a mayor, but a mayor of where?”
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…
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…
Continue reading “Reading Local Plan Update”
Today’s consultation write-up relates to a plan for 257 co-living units in a redevelopment of Greyfriars House. More significant than the proposed building itself is the new type of accommodation it would provide: Reading’s first* purpose-built co-living scheme. The planning exhibition gave me the chance to ask a few questions, so here’s what I made of it…
Continue reading “Greyfriars Road: Co-Living makes its debut”
The latest flurry of development news in Reading has focussed on new apartment schemes. It prompts constant debate, so it feels like a good time to make the case, perhaps controversially to some, that this is the right direction of travel for the town.
Continue reading “Should we be anti new flats? Taking apart the argument”
Reading-on-Thames 