Massive Reading Flats Development to Be Car-Free

A huge new Station Hill plan in Reading town centre would create up to 600 flats but provide almost no car parking.

The Station Hill development company has run the area around the station since 2018 and has already delivered around 600 flats in Friar Street through Ebb & Flow, new office space at One Station Hill, and space for restaurants, cafes and bars.

Phase 3A covers land at the junction of Garrard Street and Greyfriars Road and would see Xafinity House, a six-storey office used by contractors who built One Station Hill, demolished.

Two apartment blocks are proposed: Plot AB, two linked blocks totalling 23 storeys, and Plot D, a standalone 15-storey building.

The planning application has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.

Crucially, the scheme is largely car-free: no general resident parking will be provided.

Instead, there would be 337 cycle spaces - 228 residential and eight commercial at Plot AB, and 94 residential and seven commercial at Plot D.

Only four car parking spaces would be provided, all for disabled blue badge holders (two per building) with electric vehicle charging.

"The development is designed as a car-free scheme, reflecting the highly sustainable town centre location immediately adjacent to Reading Station.

"No general resident parking is provided.

"This approach is consistent with the sustainable transport strategy for the wider Station Hill development."

Documents list reduced reliance on private vehicles and encouragement of active and sustainable travel as benefits.

Some people have been scathing about the plans on Facebook.

Valerie Bone said: "Just what we need! No shops, just flats!!!"

John McCormack said: "Just call Reading flatsville."

Paul Darvall questioned: "With all these flats where's everybody gonna be working?"

Sheila Belli said: "Reading town, there won't be a town at least not one to shop in!"

The project would include two commercial units for businesses.

The principle of development was agreed at a council planning committee in January 2021, but that approval was subject to these detailed plans now submitted.

You can view the application by typing reference PL/26/0415 into the council's planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter