thames

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…

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

4 Year Vastern Court Appeal Finally Concluded

Reading-On-Thames, , , 17 Comments
CGI of Vastern Court scheme

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” →
4 Year Vastern Court Appeal Finally Concluded

Reading’s Re-purposeful Replanning

Reading-On-Thames, , , 31 Comments
Grid of four aerial photos of sites listed for redevelopment

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” →
Reading’s Re-purposeful Replanning

Reading Station Shopping Park

Reading-On-Thames, , , 11 Comments

Screenshot_20191030-191459~2

The latest planning exhibition last week featured plans for the TGI Friday/Mothercare/Aldi/Range units on Vastern Road – technically Reading Station Shopping Park, as absolutely nobody calls it. We could be looking at upwards of 900 apartments, although plans are fairly vague at this stage, and if office space is included at the eastern end (as shown) and/or a hotel at the western end then that number could reduce considerably. With an imminent planning application only at the outline stage, further stages could see the plans refined within the broad layout and building heights being proposed now. Continue reading “Reading Station Shopping Park” →

Reading Station Shopping Park

4 ways to improve Reading’s image

Reading-On-Thames, , , , 22 Comments

Granary-Square

In a departure from suggesting huge infrastructure projects and expensive leisure facilities, in this post I call out a few more modest ideas to improve the image of Reading.

Continue reading “4 ways to improve Reading’s image” →

4 ways to improve Reading’s image

Swan Heights, the Thames and a Tunnel

Reading-On-Thames, , 16 Comments

_20160911_210319

Last Friday I attended a public exhibition at the Town Hall for revised proposals for the development previously known as Swan Heights to be built on the former BMW site on Napier Road.  Here’s what I picked up, and some follow up thoughts…  Continue reading “Swan Heights, the Thames and a Tunnel” →

Swan Heights, the Thames and a Tunnel

The Third Reading Bridge

Reading-On-Thames, , , , , 7 Comments

caversham-lakes-12

You can’t write a blog about Reading without tackling the longest standing local talking point.  Awful traffic jams on all approaches to the existing Caversham and Reading Bridges are the bane of lives both sides of the river – it’s not hard to see why more capacity is needed.  When it comes to Reading’s Third Bridge saga, the only difficult question to answer is for exactly how many decades this idea has been discussed and procrastinated: I’m afraid I can’t do any better than ‘many’.

Continue reading “The Third Reading Bridge” →

The Third Reading Bridge

The vanity bridge that’s well worth a look

Reading-On-Thames, 2 Comments

DSC_1766“Pedestrian and Cycle bridge”.  That seems to be the official name for Reading’s new Thames crossing.  Yet despite the lack of foresight when it came to naming the new structure, the council and its planners deserve a little more credit for thinking longer term for Reading’s riverside.

Continue reading “The vanity bridge that’s well worth a look” →

The vanity bridge that’s well worth a look