A decision is due on a project that would change Reading’s destination shopping centre, The Oracle, forever.
Plans would replace the Vue cinema and the former Debenhams with more than 400 apartments and new facilities. Councillors on Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee are due to decide after last year’s delay.
The scheme is split in two. On the south bank, Hammerson wants to demolish the building housing Vue, Cote Brasserie and Miller & Carter, and build three blocks of 16 to six storeys containing 218 flats.
A Vue would be re-provided inside one block but at a much smaller scale: the current 10 screens and maximum capacity of 1,800 seats would be reduced to seven screens and 511 seats — a net loss of three screens and 1,289 seats. A restaurant and leisure space would also be created, resulting in a net loss of three restaurant units.
On the north bank, the former Debenhams would be partly demolished for two blocks of 21 to eight storeys, also providing 218 flats plus a "leisure unit", a restaurant and co-working shared office space.
In total the project would deliver 436 apartments, a leisure unit, two restaurants or equivalent businesses, and co-working space.
A decision was due in December but was postponed so councillors could take an accompanied site visit with the council’s planning team.
Principal planning officer Matt Burns has assessed the project and recommended both plans for approval, while flagging concerns.
Affordable housing provision is low: just 10% of the development, roughly 44 flats, would be designated affordable and let at Reading Local Housing Allowance levels — £195.62 per week for a self-contained one-bed, £252 for a two-bed and £299.18 for a three-bed.
The whole development is "build-to-rent", so none of the flats will be for sale. Packaged Living would manage the apartments; it is also named as the residential provider for the planned Waterfront Square development of 254 flats.
Mr Burns also raised concern about the "overdominance" of one-bed flats, of which there would be 207 units.
The project will be decided at the planning applications committee meeting on Wednesday, February 4. View each application on the council’s planning portal: PL/22/1917 (Vue building) and PL/22/1916 (former Debenhams).
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
