|
|
05/03/08 : New “gateway to Reading” gets go-ahead
The regeneration of Reading town centre took another huge step forward with the approval by the Planning Applications Committee on 5 March of an application by John Madejski’s Sackville Developments for six major new buildings at Reading Station.
The old Alder Valley bus station, Rank bingo hall and shops will go and in their place will be three mainly office blocks, the highest 34 stories, and three mainly residential blocks, including one block of social housing. The lowest stories will mainly be shops and restaurants, and the development also includes a large public square and an arts venue.
A bowling alley is planned for the area further south towards Friar Street, which Sackville also owns.
The scheme was praised on all sides, and Abbey Councillor Tony Page, a longstanding member of the committee, said he was particularly impressed by the design briefs which would ensure it was a quality development worthy of this key “gateway” site.
The application was the subject of a special public consultation earlier this year, attended by over 300 people, who gave the plans their overwhelming support.
Reading has been renewed under Labour, the Council having worked in partnership to produce the Oracle shopping centre, the John Madejski Stadium, the new Thames Water sewage works and the developments at Southside, Chatham Place (which is nearing completion) and now this major scheme in Station Hill.
And as plans for the new station and its associated work also start to come forward, the Council is consulting about how to take advantage of the new Oxford Road Relief Road to improve the quality of life along the Oxford Road corridor. The renewal continues.
Visit our News Archive
|
|
|
|
|
|
