Reading Council green lights Broad Street Mall redevelopment

Reading Borough Council has approved redevelopment plans for Broad Street Mall. The town centre regeneration scheme is being progressed by a partnership between McLaren Living, and AEW. The renewed Broad Street Mall will see the southern part of the 4.6-acre site deliver 643 ‘tenure-blind’ market and affordable build-to-rent homes, 19,000 sq ft of commercial space primarily comprising retail and leisure uses, enhanced public realm around Broad Street Mall, and an extension to the existing NHS Walk-In Centre. The four residential buildings will be strategically positioned to the south of Broad Street Mall, tracing the Dusseldorf Way link between the Hexagon and the Minster. It will also be integrated into the wider Minster Quarter masterplan, which is also being brought forward by McLaren Living in partnership with Reading Borough Council.  The revised masterplan for the redevelopment of Broad Street Mall, designed by AHR Architects, followed substantial pre-application and post-submission engagement. The previous plans were deferred by the council due to 10.1% affordable housing provided, and lack of public realm. Since a previous consent was granted for the site, the plans were updated to reflect the “latest policy and legislative standards and market needs”. Oliver Westray, development director of McLaren Living, said: “Our approved scheme will regenerate Broad Street Mall and deliver an enhanced and reinvigorated mixed-use neighbourhood, one which will deliver on the council’s plans for the area and align with its vision for the town. “The approved scheme will allow McLaren Living and AEW to create a renewed and vibrant retail and residential destination, one that will be resilient and sustainable and support the local economy. “We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with AEW and Reading Borough Council post-consent to deliver our vision for the transformation of Broad Street Mall.” Charles Royle, portfolio manager at AEW, added: “This is a significant milestone for the regeneration of Broad Street Mall, which will create much needed new homes and green spaces for the community in Reading. Our ambition, along with our partners McLaren Living, is to transform this area into a vibrant, new destination for the town, and the receipt of planning brings us one step closer to achieving that goal.”