Station Hill Reading
Sackville Developments Reading Limited (SDRL) has submitted its outline planning application for Station Hill.
Station Hill includes the area outside of Reading Station, incorporating Garrard St car park and the site of the old Friar's Walk Shopping Centre. The proposals to completely regenerate this part of the town will include a mix of new retail, grade A offices, leisure uses and apartments, whilst retaining and transforming the existing car park.
The application has been drawn up following extensive consultation with local residents and business owners as well as council representatives. The public exhibition which took place in February last year attracted over 700 people, with over 95% of respondents supporting that the area is in need of regeneration.
The application is due to be decided by Reading Borough Council later in the year. If approved, work will look to commence in 2014. Whilst redevelopment is taking place, it is the intention of the developers to create a temporary event space outside of Reading Station to be used for a variety of cultural and entertainment events.
Jason Margrave, Development Director of Stanhope said:
"This application is the culmination of a considerable amount of consultation with Reading Borough Council as well as the promoters of the neighbouring Thames Tower. The designs we have submitted have been widely supported by the public and we believe they will considerably transform this part of the town, building on the significant investment currently taking place at the station. Following consultation, we have included an enlarged public open space in the heart of the scheme, improved the retail offer and incorporated more public art."
Previously:
The promotion of a mixed use masterplan for this 5 acres site adjoining Reading Station.
The redevelopment will provide town centre car parking, office accommodation, residential and retails uses with external areas of new public realm. The scheme is strategically positioned adjoining the station which is undergoing £600m of improvements due for completion in 2018.
NEW plans for the regeneration of Station Hill in Reading went on display at the Town Hall on the 17th and 18th February.
Sackville Developments Reading Limited (SDRL), a joint venture between Benson Elliot and Stanhope PLC, unveiled a new vision for this important site at the heart of Reading during a public exhibition.
The exhibition featured plans and a model of the proposed new employment-led mixed use development scheme and members of the project team were on hand to answer questions.
The proposals include a mix of offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, cafés, leisure facilities and the complete remodelling and refurbishment of the existing NCP car park.
The disused Friars Walk shopping centre will be completely demolished, as will the unsightly Western Tower and its connected buildings.
A spokesman for Benson Elliot and Stanhope said: "We have been working with the council on this new scheme for Station Hill over the last 11 months or so and now very much look forward to sharing our draft proposals with everyone this weekend.
We hope that lots of people who live or work near this important site can attend the exhibition and give us some feedback."
LaSalle Investments are currently working up new proposals for the demolition and replacement of Thames Tower, so SDRL is working closely with the Thames Tower project team to ensure that both developments complement each other.
