NEWS

The latest property stories coming out of the Thames Valley

09/20/2017

Six new brands at Festival Place

AEW has announced ten new deals at Festival Place, Basingstoke, including six new occupiers. The 1.1 million sq ft shopping and leisure centre, currently undergoing improvements at St John’s Square and the centre’s car park, has also reported footfall up from 20m visitors per year to 22.4m. AEW which acquired the centre in December 2015 has announced new retailers: * Swarovski (1,300 sq ft) * Apricot (5,000 sq ft) * Yankee Candle (1,800 sq ft) * Lovisa (775 sq ft) Patisserie Valerie has
09/19/2017

Green Park station moves closer

Reading’s Green Park station may be operating by May 2019. Work is due to start next year on the two-platform station on the Reading to Basingstoke line and Reading Borough Council’s policy committee is likely to rubber stamp the next stage in the process at its meeting on September 25. The council is expected to enter an agreement with Network Rail regarding a £2.3m grant awarded to the project from the DfT’s New Stations Fund 2 earlier this year and to enter a delivery agreement with
09/18/2017

View from the riverbank: Tell us what you thought of TVPF

More than 190 people and 20+ exhibitors assembled last Thursday (September 14) for the largest property conference of its kind in the region to discuss, debate and showcase the issues driving the Thames Vally property community. Amongst the small talk and hot air, various themes emerged from the day's activities which were, as ever, surprising and unplanned. Serendipity, some might say. Political smells - the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine Room are holding the Government's attention
09/18/2017

TVPF7: Minister pledges help for small housebuilders

More smaller sites are needed to allow housebuilders to diversify the schemes they produce. That was a key message from housing and planning minister and Reading West MP, Alok Sharma, during his speech to delegates at the Thames Valley Property Forum. Mr Sharma said he was aware that small and medium housebuilders felt there were too few sites but that the Government planned to ensure 10 per cent of those in local plans should be no more than half a hectare in size. “We will then get more
09/18/2017

TVPF6: 'PD has cost council £4.5m'

Around £4.5 million has been lost to Reading Borough Council through Permitted Development (PD) rights along with a possible 370 affordable homes. Those figures emerged during the debate on planning at the Thames Valley Property Forum. Mark Worringham, planning policy team leader, planning section directorate of environment at Reading Borough Council, outlined the progess of the town’s Local Plan which he hoped would be adopted next year. But on PD he told delegates: “In the four years this
09/18/2017

TVPF5: 'You need to step up' warns WRLtH boss

The risks to the funding for the Thames Valley’s major infrastructure projects from other regions was made clear to delegates at the Thames Valley Property Forum. Speakers in the debate on the West of London Travel Plan warned of both the lack of Government funding for long anticipated schemes, and the threat of funds that are available, going to devolved regions. Victoria Hills, chief executive of Old Oak Common and Park Royal Development Corporation, outlined the massive scale of the project
09/18/2017

TVPF4: Crunch time approaching for office supply

A supply crunch is looming in the Thames Valley office market. In the Thames Valley Market discussion at the Thames Valley Property Forum, delegates heard bosses of two of the region’s major business parks agree that a supply shortage would be caused by several factors coming together. Rupert Batho, asset manager for Patrizia, based at Winnersh Triangle, said: “We are heading towards a a little bit of a supply crunch in terms of the top end product in probably two to three years time. “The
09/18/2017

TVPF3: Slough awaits 'amazing' shopping centre scheme

The regeneration of Slough is about to hit a new high point with ‘amazing’ plans to replace the Queensmere Observatory shopping centre with an ambitious new scheme. Hints of what was to come in Slough’s latest redevelopment plans emerged during debate on the town at a session called Slough: Challenging Perceptions at the Thames Valley Property Forum. And the debate delivered an emphatic call for funding for Western Rail Link to Heathrow. Matthew Sampson (pictured centre), development director

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Independent Property
NEWS & VIEWS

Reporting daily from the Thames Valley tvproperty.co.uk

News

Six new brands at Festival Place

Green Park station moves closer

View from the riverbank: Tell us what you thought of TVPF

TVPF7: Minister pledges help for small housebuilders

TVPF6: 'PD has cost council £4.5m'

TVPF5: 'You need to step up' warns WRLtH boss

TVPF4: Crunch time approaching for office supply

TVPF3: Slough awaits 'amazing' shopping centre scheme