NEWS

The latest property stories coming out of the Thames Valley

11/22/2017

Funding confirmed for two MRT schemes

A total of £29 million of funding for two mass rapid transit schemes in Reading has been confirmed. The Berkshire Local Transport Body, which is made up of the six local authorities and Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, has approved the business cases for Phases 3 and 4 of the South Reading Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and the East Reading MRT. The LEP has provided the funding - £10m for South Reading scheme and £19m for the East Reading scheme -through the Growth Deal with central Government. Phase 2
11/21/2017

Plan to build 572 homes on Chertsey hospital land

Plans have been submitted for the major redevelopment of NHS land in Surrey into new hospital buildings, multi-storey car park and 572 homes. Joint site owners, Ashford and St Peter's Foundation Trust and Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust along with Optivo, have applied to Runnymeade Borough Council for the redevelopment on the 12-hectare ‘west site' at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey. The application proposes: 1. Demolition of buildings for 212 houses and flats ranging from one to five
11/20/2017

View from the Riverbank: Rail schemes must match population growth

Much as the Thames Valley has every reason to be excited by the Elizabeth Line, another promising rail scheme looks set to give a huge boost to the region. East-West Rail, which will re-establish a rail link between Oxford and Cambridge, and may lead to new towns along the way, will use some of the abandoned line closed by Dr Richard Beeching in the 1960s. How costly those closures have been half a century on can only be imagined as, even though that line served the, then new, town of Milton
11/20/2017

Two giant schemes approved for Swindon

Two massive developments have been approved in Swindon, promising thousands of new homes and one of the biggest leisure schemes of its kind in the UK. Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee agreed to both proposals at its meeting on November 14. The plan for the 160,000 sq m scheme by developer SevenCapital is the first phase of the £270 million project, which will regenerate the town’s North Star site and includes improvements to the existing Oasis Leisure Centre. The development, over
11/20/2017

Infrastructure boost for the 'Brain Belt'

A report by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has urged councils to work with the Government to help build infrastructure and housing between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. The report says joint working could help deliver a million new homes and jobs by 2050, including the country’s first new towns in 50 years. The NIC wants a doubling in the rate of UK’s housebuilding and to enable that to happen, key transport projects need new momentum by the Government, including: *
11/20/2017

Taylor Wimpey plans 1,050 more homes at Didcot

Taylor Wimpey is working on plans for 1,050 more homes on the outskirts of Didcot. The developer held a public consultation on November 9 to outline its plans on around 50 hectares of land between Didcot, West Hagbourne and Coscote. The development is known as Hagbourne Fields. Taylor Wimpey already has permission for up to 4,254 homes at neighbouring Valley Park. Both schemes border the 3,300-home Great Western Park which is currently under construction. Access and link roads with those
11/20/2017

700 more student rooms planned at St Patrick's Hall

An additional 702 student rooms may be built onto St Patrick’s Hall under plans revealed by the University of Reading. The university, in partnership with its accommodation provider University Partnerships Programme (UPP), has submitted plans to Reading Borough Council to redevelop the site in Northcourt Avenue. It will bring the total number of rooms on the site to 884 and be able to offer varied types of accommodation and rent. The scheme is a revised version of the initial plans, submitted
11/17/2017

Clarkslegal moves to Thames Tower

Clarkslegal has taken 8,550 sq ft in Thames Tower in Reading. The national law firm, which was founded in the town over 100 years ago, will be on the fifth floor of the Landid and Brockton Capital development opposite Reading station and will bring with it, its spin off legal service for small and start up tech firms called Forbury Tech. Clarkslegal, currently at Forbury Square, is the sixth occupier to sign up, joining Austin Fraser, BDO, Pret A Manger, HSBC and Objective Corporation. James

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Independent Property
NEWS & VIEWS

Reporting daily from the Thames Valley tvproperty.co.uk

News

Funding confirmed for two MRT schemes

Plan to build 572 homes on Chertsey hospital land

View from the Riverbank: Rail schemes must match population growth

Two giant schemes approved for Swindon

Infrastructure boost for the 'Brain Belt'

Taylor Wimpey plans 1,050 more homes at Didcot

700 more student rooms planned at St Patrick's Hall

Clarkslegal moves to Thames Tower