Huge 576 apartment development to replace offices in Reading submitted

A huge development of more than 550 apartments could replace three office buildings near Reading town centre.

Developers want to replace the Napier Court offices near the station and the town centre with massive new buildings containing 576 apartments.

The site currently consists of three two-and-a-half-storey offices located opposite King's Meadow.

The project would see these replaced with apartments totalling 11 storeys, providing a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments and studio flats.

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Features the developers have touted include a lounge, gym and workspace for future occupiers, with a small publicly accessible retail unit at ground level.

The project has been put forward by developers Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates.

The developers have claimed that the project will be highly sustainable, incorporating existing trees on site, to boost its green credentials, and 'will be built with biodiversity at its forefront'.

A CGI daytime view of the huge project to replace Napier Court with 576 apartments near Reading town centre. (Image: Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates)

Future residents will have easy access to King's Meadow and be in walking distance to the train station and the town centre.

For longer distances, future occupants can make use of storage space for 289 bicycles, with 20 spaces for visitors by bike.

However, only 39 spaces will be reserved for cars and six motorbikes.

Ralph Jones of Peveril Securities said: “The project team has worked hard to ensure the scheme represents a truly sustainable development that enhances the surrounding area and provides much needed new homes.

“We have been keen to ensure plenty of space for residents’ bicycles and visitors. The site is well connected to central Reading, offering the ability for residents to walk into Central Reading for shopping, work or leisure.

“We have worked closely with our architects to design the development with sustainability and with the theme of Reading’s local buildings in mind. Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have included 30 per cent affordable units peppered throughout the scheme.”

The development will also come with private amenity space on the roof of the new buildings and an external terrace.

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The developers hope the project could be approved by the end of the year, with work to start in 2025 for delivery in 2027.

Detailed plans can be viewed once an application reference number is generated on Reading Borough Council's planning website.

Napier Court has been identified for redevelopment in the council's adopted Local Plan from 2018, under policy CR11i with an ‘indicative capacity’ of 210-310 homes.

Numbers have been adjusted from the pre-application proposals, with car parking spaces going down from 56 to 39 and motorbike spaces going down from eight to six.