Plans for 600 apartments have been submitted as part of the Station Hill transformation in Reading town centre.
Lincoln MGT's phase 3A would see Xafinity House on Greyfriars Road demolished to make way for two new buildings: Plot AB (two interconnected blocks totalling 23 storeys) and Plot D (a standalone 15-storey block). Together they would provide 600 build-to-rent homes.
The mix is 330 one-beds, 214 two-beds, 34 studios and 22 three-beds. 75 will be affordable - 12.5% of the scheme - all within Plot AB and described as ‘tenure blind’. Two commercial units are also proposed.
The Station Hill development already includes around 600 flats called Ebb & Flow and a large new office building between Friar Street and Garrard Street. Xafinity House was used as offices by Sir Robert McAlpine for Phase 2.
The site currently hosts Siren Craft Brew, Notes Coffee Roasters & Bar and Flight Club, which opened today (Friday, May 1).
Justifying the project, a planning agent from DP9 Ltd wrote: "Station Hill has been a successful, award-winning development to date. The Applicant has taken great care and attention to deliver regeneration that benefits the wider community and enhances Reading as a town. "They have undertaken huge social value initiatives and delivered building and a public realm that is of very high quality and unique to Reading. "This application is the next phase of this Masterplan and will further stitch Ebb&Flow and One Station Hill into the urban fabric."
Planned benefits include 1,184 sqm of public realm called Station Hill Gardens, a car-free development with limited parking for disabled people, and 50 new trees.
The application was submitted to Reading Borough Council as a reserved matters application - the development was agreed in principle at committee in July 2021. You can view the application under reference PL/26/0415 on the council planning portal. Plans for a further block, Building C (Phase 3B), will be applied for later.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
