Thames Valley Park & Ride recommended for approval

Plans for a park & ride at Thames Valley Park go before councillors on Wednesday, November 9 with a recommendation for approval. Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee will consider the proposals, submitted by the council itself for a 277-space park & ride on 1.35-acres of scrubland to the west of the park behind the Waterside Centre. Reading Borough Council is seeking to link a new mass rapid transit scheme to the park and ride which will mean potential to expand services to

The Oracle announces £5.7m Riverside upgrade

A glass pavilion for a new restaurant is part of a £5.7 million upgrade to Reading’s Oracle Riverside. Lebanese restaurant, Comptoir Libanais will open in the new 167 sq m building in the first phase of the two-phase regeneration which already has planning permission. The second will involve reconfiguration of The Riverside’s terrace steps to create a larger public space for performances, kiosks and pop-ups. Sarah Fox, head of restaurants and leisure at owners Hammerson said: “Welcoming a

Football club says expanded Heathrow 'will ignite the region'

Reading FC has said the Government announcement to back Heathrow expansion is a major boost to the region alongside its plans for Royal Elm Park. The proposed international convention centre is the centrepiece of a £500 million redevelopment of the current the Madejski Stadium car park which the club says will in itself put the region on the world stage. Now the club says an expanded Heathrow will boost the region even more. Football club chief executive Nigel Howe of Reading FC, who is

Businesses urged to keep pressure up over Heathrow expansion

The Thames Valley must keep the pressure on the Government to ensure Heathrow expansion becomes a reality. Following the Government’s announcement to support Heathrow expansion, a report by planning, design and economics consultancy Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP) stated that areas which stand to benefit must put in place ‘planning and economic strategies’ to take advantage of the opportunities. And property professionals in the region told Thames Valley Property what is needed now is to

Serviced housing plots go on display

A public exhibition will be held to display ‘do-it-yourself’ plots for 125 homes and a park at High Wycombe. The plots of council-owned land will offer planning permission, infrastructure and are described as ‘construction ready’. The site is in Ashwells, High Wycombe. Wycombe District Council has been advised by Savills. Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Cllr Roger Wilson said: “I would urge people to come along to the exhibition to shape our plans for the Ashwells

Thames Quarter scheme unveiled

Lochailort Reading has unveiled its new plans for 315 flats on the site of the previously proposed Swan Heights scheme. As we reported in September the new scheme – to be called Thames Quarter - on the site of the former BMW showroom, is the town’s to be first Build to Rent scheme where the block will be owned by one institutional investor and all the flats available for rent only. A spokesman told the getreading website a planning application would be expected in the coming weeks. getreading

£150m Basingstoke hospital plan discussed in Commons

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has brought the question of a planned new hospital and cancer centre in the town, to the House of Commons. Plans to build the new Critical Treatment Hospital (CTH) were approved by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in October 2015. The plans are for a £150 million hospital on a 22-hectare site on the north side of the A30 near J7 of the M3, alongside an £18.5m cancer treatment centre. A new roundabout will be built on the A30 and the plans include a helicopter

Grove Business Park plans delayed after 11th hour move

A major expansion of Grove Business Park in wantage is on hold after a last minute interception. Officers at Vale of White Horse District Council had recommended approval for the plans to demolish dated buildings and add several more covering a variety of uses, and the planning application was due for discussion at the council’s October 19 planning meeting. But an existing tenant on the park has put a spoke in the works by asking if an Environmental Impact Assessment were needed. A council

Wadham College Oxford plans new student block

Wadham College at Oxford University has applied to build a block of 117 student rooms in the city with 11 self contained flats. The site at 265 to 279 Iffley Road and garages in Percy Street wil also accommodate a flexible single storey ‘garden room’ which can act as a student common room or become teaching or lecturing space. There will also be 150 sq m of space for small businesses. It is proposed the development will house Wadham’s second year undergraduates who currently rent on the open

Public consulted over £29m Maidenhead leisure centre

The public are being asked for ideas to add to the planned new £29 million leisure centre for Maidenhead. The Braywick Centre is being called a once-in-40-years chance for an outstanding centre in the Royal Borough and would replace the Magnet Leisure Centre. Currently it includes: * A 10-lane swimming pool with moveable floor * Larger training pool * Larger splash area * A 200-station gym * Better accessibility for sports teams and disabled users * Double the parking spaces (500 compared to