Regeneration and Land Development
Aldwych House
The next new landmark office building in the town centre will be on the site of Aldwych House, which occupies a prime location immediately opposite Reading Station and Apex Plaza. New owners Canmoor have consent for just under 100,000 sq ft on six floors.
Kenavon Drive
The evolution of Kenavon Drive from Victorian biscuit factory (Huntley and Palmer) to a diverse residential urban neighbourhood continues through the granting of planning permission on the 5.8-acre former gas works site, now owned by AIG/Highmore Homes, for 542 new homes and retail. An adjoining ‘brownfield’ site of 2.7-acres is the subject of an application for a further 280 units.
West Village
Tesco and Barratts now own the 33-acre site on the Oxford Road acquired from the NHS. A Tesco store of 89,400 sq ft and 637 customer parking spaces opened in February 2008.The remainder of the site is being developed for 434 homes, 7 food/non-food retail units and community facilities.
GreenPark 
St Edward Homes, a joint venture between PRUPIM and The Berkeley Group, has submitted a planning application for a 60-acre village (‘GreenPark Village’) forming part of the 180-acre GreenPark development. The proposals include over 700 new homes, 170,000 sq ft of office space plus a school and sports facilities. The proposed GreenPark railway station now has planning permission and is scheduled to open in 2010.
Southside and Kennet Island
Southside (100-acres) straddles the A33 close to GreenPark and Madejski Stadium and will become a new residential and commercial gateway to Reading from Junction 11.These adjacent developments will provide up to 880,000 sq ft offices, 1,150 residential units (initial phases completed and units sold), and community facilities including local shops. A new 210 bed Hilton hotel is a landmark feature of the site (opening April 2009). A private hospital on a 2.3-acre plot, is also planned for the site.
Reading City Gateway
Wharf Land acquired the redundant 22 acre Hewlett Packard site in 2007. This is an important gateway site adjacent to Junction 11 of the motorway and close to Reading International Business Park, GreenPark and Madejski Stadium.
Winnersh Triangle
SEGRO has announced plans to redevelop Winnersh Triangle (80-acres) over a period of several years. Phase One will provide 328,000 sq ft offices, a 174 bedroom Holiday Inn, shops and leisure facilities due to complete between 2009 and 2011. Office and hotel pre-lets have been agreed. The total redevelopment potential is around 2m sq ft.
Reading Station
The Government has confirmed a funding package of £800m to upgrade the station, track and signalling and introduce a multi-modal interchange. Major elements of the scheme, to be undertaken in phases and completed by 2015, include five new platforms, new track, a vertical separation of freight and passenger services and a new bridge at Scours Lane. Such investment underpins the importance of Reading’s mainline rail station, which provides radial routes to all parts of the country and is the second busiest provincial station in the UK. In recent years, town centre tenant demand has centred on the station area, which now offers key transport lead regeneration opportunities.
Chatham Place
A public/private sector partnership between Reading Borough Council and MUSE is in the process of regenerating an 11-acre site in Chatham Street. Planning permission has been obtained for the £250m mixed use scheme, including housing, offices, retail, hotel, car parking, swimming pool and a new public square. Phase One is under construction comprising 542,508 sq ft mixed use development. Phase Two will provide a further 568,406 sq ft including decking over the IDR, plus highway and public realm works. August 2008 saw completion of the first phase and delivery of apartments offered to the open market.
Station Hill
Sir John Madejski’s Sackville Developments is working up a new planning application for the 1.4m sq ft mixed use scheme opposite Reading Station, which now incorporates the defunct Friar's Walk shopping centre. The proposal provides for 800,000 sq ft of offices, 100,000 sq ft of retail, 650 flats and a cultural quarter including theatre, arts and gallery space. The scheme includes a 32-storey residential tower, a 24-storey office block and 880 parking spaces.
The Blade
PMB Holdings/Morley’s 15-storey steel and glass office building is on track for completion in March 2009.The scheme includes a dramatic spire and will become one of Reading’s most striking buildings, providing 109,018 sq ft of offices with an adjacent residential building providing eight floors of key worker shared ownership apartments and a restaurant.
One Reading Central
Kier Property and Invista Real Estate Management are now developing Energis House (formerly the Metalbox Building) on Forbury Road for 623,000 sq ft of B1 offices in three buildings.The first phase, a building of 216,000 sq ft to be known as One Reading Central, is under construction and scheduled for completion in Spring 2010. 153,000 sq ft has been pre-let to Yell.
Reading Civic Centre
The need for Reading Borough Council to relocate from its current civic building has been established. The proposals envisage new civic offices, a new theatre and library, and a mix of other uses including retail, cafes, restaurants and residential to replace the existing Civic Centre.
Several large mixed-use schemes are at various stages of delivery, both in and out of the town centre. These will have a dramatic effect upon the built environment, and include stunning new architecture
