Town Centre Changes !!!

Exciting Changes in the Town Centre!
Yes, there are significant plans for the redevelopment of Reading Town Centre in Berkshire. Here’s a summary of the key aspects and ongoing projects:

Key Strategies and Plans:

• Town Centre Public Realm Strategy: This comprehensive vision aims to transform public spaces into pleasant, accessible, and sustainable environments. It focuses on improving quality, cohesion, and usability while fostering identity, cultural vibrancy, and sustainability. Key objectives include unifying design, improving pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, enhancing green spaces, promoting sustainability, addressing traffic dominance, highlighting heritage, activating public spaces, decluttering, integrating quality materials, and encouraging flexible uses. This strategy supplements the Reading Borough Local Plan.
• Minster Quarter Regeneration: A £250 million project to redevelop the 5.2-acre site formerly occupied by the Civic Centre. Plans include over 600 new homes (30% affordable), 40,000 sq m of commercial space, a 102-bed hotel, and new public spaces like Hexagon Square. The aim is to create a thriving mixed-use community with improved connections to surrounding areas. McLaren Living is the development partner.
• Reading Borough Local Plan (Adopted 2019) and Updates: These plans guide development in the borough and include policies like CR3, which requires new developments in central Reading to positively contribute to the public realm.
• Reading Transport Strategy 2040: This outlines plans for improving transportation within and around the town, which will impact the town centre’s accessibility.

Major Redevelopment Projects Underway or Planned:

• Broad Street Mall: Plans have been submitted to add four new towers containing 644 apartments to the mall. This would involve demolishing the rear of the mall and building new towers from the ground up.
• The Oracle: While specific plans are still emerging, the owners have submitted plans to add hundreds of apartments. Hollywood Bowl and TK Maxx are also set to open in the summer of 2025 in the eastern portion of the site, with potential for further transformation of the Vue Cinema and former Debenhams buildings.
• John Lewis Site (Mill Lane): Plans have been submitted to replace the customer collections centre with a complex containing 215 apartments.
• Forbury Retail Park (Kings Meadow View): Plans exist to completely redevelop this retail park with 12 towers containing 820 flats.
• Napier Court: Plans have been submitted to demolish the three office buildings and replace them with 576 apartments.
• Waterfront Square (Norman Place office): A project for 254 apartments to replace the existing office building.
• Reading Station Shopping Park (Vastern Court): Approved plans to transform the shopping park into a development with 1,000 apartments and new commercial facilities.
• Friar Street (Cosmo Buffet site): Approved plans to demolish the building and construct a tower containing 103 flats.
• Hexagon Quarter: Plans to develop this area into a “new vibrant urban quarter” with a focus on residential property and cultural facilities, potentially including a new site for the Hexagon Theatre.
• Improvements to Public Spaces: Plans include creating a new public plaza in Minster Square, a “greenway” with foliage and seating, and enhancing pedestrianization and cycle routes in areas like Castle Street and the Broad Street Mall/Oxford Road/St Mary’s Butts district.

Overall Vision:

The overarching aim is to create a more vibrant, sustainable, and liveable town centre that can accommodate Reading’s growing population and support its economic development. This involves a mix of residential, commercial, cultural, and improved public spaces, with a focus on better connectivity, green infrastructure, and celebrating the town’s heritage.

You can find more detailed information on specific planning applications by searching on the Reading Borough Council’s planning portal using the references mentioned in the news articles provided.

The redevelopment plans for Reading Town Centre will likely have a mixed impact on bars, pubs, and restaurants. Here’s a breakdown of potential outcomes:

Potential Positives:

• Increased Footfall: The significant increase in residential units planned (thousands of new homes) will bring a substantial influx of new residents to the town centre. This directly translates to a larger potential customer base for existing and new hospitality businesses.
• New Commercial Spaces: Many of the redevelopment projects include dedicated commercial space at ground level. This presents opportunities for new bars, pubs, and restaurants to open in prime locations, potentially with modern facilities and designs.
• Enhanced Public Realm: The focus on improving public spaces, creating plazas, and enhancing pedestrian areas can create a more attractive environment for people to socialize and spend time outdoors, benefiting businesses with outdoor seating.
• Evening Economy Boost: A larger residential population and a more vibrant public realm can contribute to a stronger evening economy, encouraging more people to go out for drinks and meals.
• Potential for Diverse Offerings: New developments might attract a wider range of businesses, leading to a more diverse and appealing selection of bars, pubs, and restaurants.
• Relocation Opportunities: Businesses in areas undergoing major demolition might be offered opportunities to relocate to new commercial spaces within the redeveloped areas.

Potential Negatives and Challenges:

• Displacement and Closure: Some existing bars, pubs, and restaurants located in buildings slated for demolition will likely face closure or the need to relocate. This can be disruptive and potentially lead to the loss of established businesses with loyal customer bases.
• Increased Competition: The influx of new hospitality venues could lead to increased competition for existing businesses.
• Temporary Disruption: Construction work associated with the large-scale redevelopments can cause temporary disruption to foot traffic, access, and the overall ambiance of certain areas, potentially impacting trade for nearby businesses.
• Changing Character: The redevelopment might alter the character of certain areas, potentially affecting the atmosphere that some existing establishments rely on.
• Rent Increases: Increased demand for commercial space in newly developed areas could lead to higher rents, potentially making it difficult for some independent or smaller businesses to afford prime locations.
• Focus on Certain Types of Establishments: Developers might prioritize certain types of commercial tenants (e.g., larger chains) over smaller, independent bars and pubs.

Overall Outlook:

It’s likely that the redevelopment of Reading Town Centre will result in a net increase in the number of bars, pubs, and restaurants in the long term, driven by the growing residential population and new commercial spaces. However, there will also be challenges and potential displacement for some existing businesses.

The success of the hospitality sector in the redeveloped town centre will depend on factors such as:

• The quality and mix of new commercial spaces.
• The design and attractiveness of the public realm.
• The ability of existing businesses to adapt to the changing environment.
• The council’s planning policies and support for the hospitality sector.

It’s advisable for owners and operators of bars, pubs, and restaurants in Reading Town Centre to stay informed about the specific redevelopment plans in their vicinity and to consider how these changes might impact their businesses. Engaging with the council and developers could also provide opportunities to voice their concerns and explore potential opportunities.