Joint venture partners McLaren Living and AEW have secured planning consent for the redevelopment of Broad Street Mall in Reading.
The JV partners intend to deliver 643 ‘tenure-blind’ market and affordable build-to-rent (BTR) homes across four residential buildings, circa 19,000 sq ft of commercial space, primarily comprising retail and leisure uses, enhanced public realm and a range of improvements to the mall.
The residential buildings will be positioned to the south of Broad Street Mall, tracing the Dusseldorf Way link between the Hexagon and the minster and integrating into the wider Minster Quarter masterplan, which is also being brought forward by McLaren Living in partnership with Reading Borough Council.
The revised masterplan for the redevelopment of Broad Street Mall, which was designed by AHR Architects, followed substantial pre-application and post-submission engagement.
Oliver Westray, development director at McLaren Living, said: “Our approved scheme will regenerate Broad Street Mall and deliver an enhanced and reinvigorated mixed-use neighbourhood, one which will deliver on the council’s plans for the area and align with its vision for the town.
“The approved scheme will allow McLaren Living and AEW to create a renewed and vibrant retail and residential destination, one that will be resilient and sustainable and support the local economy. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with AEW and Reading Borough Council post-consent to deliver our vision for the transformation of Broad Street Mall.”
Charles Royle, portfolio manager at AEW, added: “This is a significant milestone for the regeneration of Broad Street Mall, which will create much needed new homes and green spaces for the community in Reading. Our ambition, along with our partners McLaren Living, is to transform this area into a vibrant, new destination for the town, and the receipt of planning brings us one step closer to achieving that goal.”
