Elms Field finally wins approval

After years of wrangling, plans to develop Elms Field in Wokingham have been passed by planners. Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee passed the latest version of the plans on Wednesday (March 30). The original plans were thrown out two years ago after local opposition and replaced by new proposals which have more shops, a smaller supermarket, a larger park, but retain the planned three screen boutique cinema, restaurants, cafes, hotel, and 126 new homes. The committee approved the

Exclusive: New plans imminent as Jacksons building is sold again

The former Jacksons store in Reading has been sold for the second time in two years and now a new planning application is imminent. The famous department store which closed in 2013 after 138 years in Reading had been bought by a private investor and planning consent for three retail units on the ground floor with 18 apartments above and 11 more in a separate building behind, was later granted. Now though the iconic building has been bought for £4.5 million by SG Capital which has developed

Public sees a future in Reading 2050

Reading’s vision of the future drew an emphatically positive response when it went public for the first time. Reading 2050, a project led by planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore, Reading UK CIC and the University of Reading, revealed its vision to members of the public on Friday and Saturday (March 18 & 19). Reading Buses supported the vision for the future providing a branded bus at the station on Friday and in Broad Street the next day and helping the team stand out. Deputy

Basingstoke homes deal celebrated by council

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is celebrating a deal with Bewley Homes which has turned an office eyesore into 30 apartments while bringing income to the authority. Empty office block, Brook House at Alencon Link was demolished to make way for 30 high spec flats with a rooftop communal garden, developed by Bewley which are nearing completion. Now Bewley has signed a deal which allows the council to keep the ground lease rent income by remaining the landowner. Six of the apartments will

Shop owner stands in way of £100m Hounslow scheme

A small shop owner in Hounslow is standing in the way of a major development of 527 homes, a multiplex cinema, shops and restaurants. getwestlondon has reported the David and Goliath battle between mudasser arif, joint owners of their store, ITS, and Barratt which wants to widen an alleyway known as Smithy Lane to open up access to the planned £100m complex at a site known as High Street Quarter. A number of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) had been issued by Hounslow Borough Council and

Guildford masterplan agreed by council

A masterplan to radically improve the centre of Guildford has been agreed by councillors. Members of Guildford Borough Council’s executive met on Tuesday (March 22) and voted to approve the plan which first emanated in November 2014. A draft masterplan was agreed last September and consultation took place throughout the autumn. Now it has been agreed it will shape the local place and although it will not determine planning applications, the council will encourage developers to consider it as a

BID plan to boost Staines

Businesses in Staines are being asked their thoughts on setting up a Business Improvement District (BID). A consultation and survey is already underway and the planned BID could raise £1.4 million over the five year term of its business plan. A ballot among businesses has been arranged for October. All rate-paying organisations within the BID area (including Spelthorne Borough Council) would contribute between £50 and £5,000 per year to fund additional improvements and promotions to attract

Decision time for Elms Field

The most contentious section of Wokingham’s regeneration reaches decision time on Wednesday, (March 30) when councillors meet to discuss redevelopment of Elms Field. The original plans for the site were thrown out two years ago and replaced by new proposals which have more shops, a smaller supermarket, a larger park, but retain the planned three screen boutique cinema, restaurants, cafes, hotel, and new homes. The current plans went through a prolonged consultation period after local protests.

MIPIM spotlights the Thames Valley

Matthew Battle reports for the Thames Valley from MIPIM 2016 For the dozen or so hardy souls who attended the inaugural Thames Valley breakfast held at The Carlton, MIPIM 2016 it was a unqualified success. Not since the heady days of the Reading Boat over ten years ago has there been a formal gathering of Thames Valley folk at this global property fest in the re-badged Cannes-upon-Thames with numbers back up to its 2008 level of 24,000 official delegates from around the world’s property

Go-ahead for 205 riverside flats in Staines

Bellway’s plans for 205 riverside apartments on a council car park in Staines have been approved. The application was submitted in December and approved this month for the mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments on the site in Bridge Street. It will have a restaurant with glass frontage and panoramic views of the river, 140 parking spaces, a gym and communal garden for residents. Cllr Nick Gething, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: "This announcement marks an