Broad Street Mall owners looking to add 500 flats and neighbouring 100-room hotel

Broad Street Mall owners Inception Reading SARL are planning to build 530 flats on top of the shopping centre and a 100-room hotel at closed nightclub Eva's.

The extensions to the town centre mall would take the site’s highest point from three to 25 storeys.

The mall is part of regeneration plans in the ‘Hosier Street Area’, which include the former civic offices and Reading Police Station.

Matt Rodda, Reading East MP, has previously raised concerns over the height and density of proposed buildings in the area.

He said: “I am concerned about the height and density of some of the developments.

“Tall buildings along the IDR will alienate the population of Reading West.

He added: “The density of flats proposed is higher than would normally be found and Reading and I am concerned about the effects on quality of life for residents.”

Three of the blocks at Broad Street Mall would rise by 22, 18 and 15 storeys, adding to the present three-storeys on each block. These would provide up to 180, 150 and 115 flats respectively.

A further five-storey block is planned by adding two floors onto the existing offices, with around 35 flats, and 50 more flats planned above some shops, which would remain open.

Inception Reading SARL sent a scoping request to Reading Borough Council (RBC) on September 25, seeking a decision on whether an environmental impact assessment is needed for the housing plans.

The 100-room hotel, at the site of Eva’s, on Hosier Street, is a separate application and not part of the scoping request.

The nightclub closed in September 2017 after a number of violent incidents.

The draft area development framework will be debated at a standalone strategic, environment, planning and transport committee (SEPT) meeting on December 12, at 6.30pm.

Members were due to approve the updated framework at SEPT on Wednesday, November 21, but it was deferred due to officers failing to include several comments from the consultation.