TVPF16: 'We must respond to priorities of the young'

The changing priorities of young professionals is shaping the future of living and working in the Thames Valley. The message from speakers at the Thames Valley Property Forum 2016 was that to be cool and funky (the forum’s theme) business has to respond to the way the young wanted to run their lives. Andrew Ward, director for corporate relations at Brunel University, said the young were not as motivated to make money as previous generations and their work and life goals were different. “They

TVPF2016: 'Baby boomers failed to understand Generation Y'

A generation gap has played a key role in driving young talent to London at the expense of the Thames Valley. That was one of the central messages delivered to almost 200 property professionals at Thursday’s (September 8) Thames Valley Property Forum 2016. The forum was themed on whether the Thames Valley was cool and funky enough to attract the technical talent it needs when many are attracted to trendy areas of London. Kate Dean from Dean Consulting whose comments at last year’s event had

Build to Rent unveiled at new Thames Quarter development

The concept of Build to Rent has been unveiled in Reading for the first time in a new development called Thames Quarter, the scheme to replace Swan Heights. The unpopular Swan Heights development of 350 flats at the former Coopers BMW showroom at King’s Meadow Road, has made way for a newly designed proposal for 310 in one building which will all be available to rent. The Build to Rent concept allows one institutional investor to buy the entire development which is let out, typically, to

Slough agrees setting up housing companies

Councillors in Slough have given the go-ahead to set up two private housing companies to help meet demand for rental property. The borough council’s cabinet approved the plans on Monday, September 5. Herschel Homes will buy brand new, high spec homes and rent them out at market rates while Slough Homes will buy both new and secondhand homes to let out at lower rates to people struggling to pay market rent but whose need is desperate. Both companies will be limited by shares, with the council

Jaguar Land Rover submits redevelopment plans for Guildford

A dramatic new look for the Jaguar Land Rover motor dealership in Guildford has been revealed under plans for a redevelopment of the site. Under the new plans the site on Ladymead will display cars on three levels including the roof and there will be five levels for cars to be parked in at the rear. Inchcape Estates had originally planned at larger scheme but went back to the drawing board after discussions with Guildford Borough Council in 2014 and 2015. The prominent site, at the junction

Calcot Lidl is back on the agenda

The long awaited Lidl development in Calcot is expected to be approved on Wednesday, September 14. The plans which will mean the new store is next to an existing Aldi which is just inside West Berkshire border with Reading on the A4 Bath Road, were on the council’s eastern area planning committee agenda for August 24 but deferred for more information. The proposals for the former Horncastle Ford site, have now re-emerged for Wednesday’s meeting with officers recommending approval. Affected

9 Greyfriars: UK's most sustainable building outside London

A new development by McKay Securities is now officially the most sustainable office building in the UK outside London. Extensively refurbished 9 Greyfriars in Greyfriars Road, a 38,417 sq ft office development in Reading town centre, already acknowledged to be the greenest in Reading, has secured the only BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating ever awarded outside the capital. Energy costs at the building which also has an EPC A rating, will be a fraction of those in less efficient buildings and quoting

Plans for 750 homes at Basingstoke set for approval

Councillors in Basingstoke meet on Wednesday (September 7) to discuss an application for 750 homes at Hounsome Fields. Wates Developments’ plans to build on the 111-acre fields in South West Basingstoke, have been recommended for approval. The one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes will include 40 per cent affordable properties and five self build homes. As well as housing the site includes a neighbourhood centre, a site for a primary school (which Wates will help fund), parks and open

Reading may object to floating homes in Theale

Councillors in Reading are likely to object to proposals for floating homes in Theale. Woking-based Berfeld Limited, a joint venture between Larkfleet Group Limited and Floodline Developments Limited, had applied to West Berkshire Council in May to build 225 homes including 24 ‘Can-Float’ houses which will be built close to the edge of Theale Lake and which rise up with the water levels in the case of flooding. But the officers’ recommendation for neighbouring Reading Borough Council’s

New Swan Heights scheme about to be revealed

Developers behind the Swan Heights scheme in Reading will unveil their latest proposals this week. Almost eighteen months after their first scheme for 350 flats was thrown out by Reading Borough Council, Lochailort Reading will reveal a scaled down scheme for 300 on the site of the former BMW garage in King’s Meadow Road. An exhibition will take place in Reading Town Hall this Friday, September 9. Lochailort believes concerns raised by the initial scheme, many about the look and scale of the