Late last week it was revealed that the Vastern Court scheme has been accepted by the government – specifically by Lee Rowley the Minister of State for housing, planning and building safety, on behalf of Michael Gove. The scheme will consist of 600 to 1000 homes, with the uncertainty due to the flexibility for the tallest building to be allocated for either flats or offices. Let’s try to unpack what’s been going on…
Continue reading “4 Year Vastern Court Appeal Finally Concluded”
Plans have been submitted by McLaren Living for a residential-led regeneration of the Broad Street Mall. It’s now over five years since previous owner Moorgarth submitted similar plans, and 7 months since I wrote up the planning exhibition ahead of this new submission. That more recent design has been revised somewhat, but to avoid confusion with multiple comparisons to different plans, let’s just take a look at these final proposals (also available on their consultation website and display boards upstairs in the mall).
Continue reading “Broad St Mall plans submitted”
Since my last round-up article, there are two updates of particular note. Of more popular interest, news on the Oracle has emerged, and perhaps of wider consequence, a new update to the council’s longer-term local plan is out for consultation. The link between the two is a prevailing direction of repurposing land from retail and office to residential and leisure.
Continue reading “Reading’s Re-purposeful Replanning”
The end of the year is the obvious opportunity to review the past 12 months, and to look at what’s to come during the next lap of sun. After a tumultuous year internationally, and nationally for that matter, let’s keep things local for a few minutes. 2022 saw a number of projects galloping forwards, whilst others seem perpetually stuck in the traps. One project that’s come up on the rails from nowhere is the Oracle’s major scheme, which was submitted for planning permission this week – more on that shortly. But let’s take a more leisurely canter through the runners and riders for 2023.
Continue reading “The front-runners for 2023”
Recent months have seen a flurry of new and altered plans for developments along Friar Street, as well as construction continuing on the new Friars Walk. Let’s take a look through the progress, and the context of how this street fits within the evolving story of Reading Town Centre.
Continue reading “Friar Street – Finding the Way Forward”
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.
Continue reading “Bowl Central, Caversham Road”
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…
Continue reading “Blue Collar Opening Countdown… Interview”
New proposals have emerged for a 103-home build-to-rent scheme adjacent to the Station Hill development on Friar Street. The developer, Shaviram Group, held an online consultation and has published materials online where you can provide your feedback. Here’s what I picked up on this latest residential plan for Reading town centre.
Continue reading “Cosmo Corner – Future Friar Street”
Another vast new residential regeneration project has been unveiled this week. This time it’s Forbury Retail Park in the spotlight. As always, I went along to the public consultation to see what’s going on. I’ll try to cover the facts, but I can’t help but express more than one central reservation about these new plans.
Continue reading “A closer look at Kings Meadow View”
Houses, hotels, a jail, a station, an electric works… as we pass Go for another lap round the board, here’s a roundup of where we are with the main projects in Reading, and who’s winning.
Continue reading “What’s new for 2022…”
Reading-on-Thames 