search.noResults

search.searching

note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
21 Building on Reading’s success


Royal Elm Park


Kim Cohen, planning partner, Barton Willmore takes a look at how to capitalise on Reading’s economic success


As Reading keeps its crown as one of the top UK towns/cities to live in (according to the PwC Good Growth for Cities 2016 Index), how can the town capitalise on its continued economic success? Infrastructure is key, and as Heathrow prepares for its expansion we need to ensure our wider infrastructure network improves at the same rate. Thankfully the development of the ‘smart’ M4 has already begun, Crossrail will reach Reading in 2019, plus plans march on for the Western Rail expansion to Heathrow, the development of south Reading’s MRT system, major upgrades to Reading Station and planned new station at Green Park, the arrival of new high- speed trains and a high-speed rail link to replace the existing Reading to Heathrow bus route.


Each of these will individually and collectively enhance the connectivity of Reading both nationally and internationally, and have in turn made development such as that recently permitted at Royal Elm Park, possible. The £400 million redevelopment scheme in south Reading will transform a vastly underused surface car park adjacent to the Madejski Stadium, into a world-class convention centre (capable of hosting up to 6,000 visitors); 600 new homes; 2,000 sq m of high-quality leisure and retail facilities; 18,000 sq m of new public space and a series of locally significant transport improvements. Furthermore, the development is set to provide over


600 construction jobs and 1,100 direct operational jobs, many of which will draw upon the locally-available workforce.


The convention centre at Royal Elm Park has clear potential to become the venue of choice for hosting both national and international events, enabling the town to compete on a European stage, particularly given there is no comparable facility south of Birmingham, while also representing a major step in the ongoing regeneration of the south Reading area.


Within central Reading, over two million sq ft of office space being developed within 500m of Reading Station further demonstrates confidence in our economy and offer. Reading has witnessed a marked increase in the quality and type of office space being delivered, and the number of large corporations moving in, with pharmaceutical giant Bayer being the latest. The opening of Landid’s new, flagship Thames Tower building, the refurbishment of The White Building, the redeveloped Forbury Place (a new home for SSE), along with BREEAM and BCO regional winner 9 Greyfriars, all raise the bar for quality. In parallel with this, the residential market remains buoyant with considerable investment being seen in and around the town centre.


Looking forward, Reading’s future depends on our ability to continue this growth and compete with other UK cities for inward


READING NUMBER 1 CITY UPDATE – JUNE 2017 businessmag.co.uk


investment. With so much going on, how do we make sure all this activity is benefiting the wider town? Since 2013, Barton Willmore has been working alongside key partners (Reading UK CIC, the University of Reading and Reading Borough Council) and the wider business and local communities to develop the Reading 2050 Vision. Focusing on Reading’s existing strengths as a city of festivals, culture, green technology and rivers and parks, the Vision has focused on how we can enhance our assets while also planning for a smart and sustainable future. Set to be officially launched in September, the Vision will set out some clear ambitions and milestones for Reading’s future, into which everyone within the town has a role to play. The built environment is important, but so is the role businesses of all scales and members of the community can play in informing, supporting and driving all the identified opportunities from an environmental, economic and social perspective. We do hope many of The Business Magazine readers will get involved.


Reading is superbly placed to support economic growth and entrepreneurialism – and all of the above is certainly a compelling reason to ‘turn west’ out of Heathrow.


bartonwillmore.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24