New Station Hill design gets big thumbs-up
Adam Hewitt • Published 4 Feb 2010 13:00
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The redesigned Station Hill Building B8 on Friar Street
A computer model of the whole Station Hill project
THE developers behind the Station Hill project to bulldoze and rebuild a swathe of the town centre have redesigned one of its landmark buildings.
The new plans for 'building eight' (B8), which fronts onto Friar Street (pictured), have softened its curves and introduced 'organic' cladding on the windows.
The changes come after disappointed reviews of B8's original design at Reading Borough Council's planning committee in September when the whole scheme was given outline planning permission amid generally positive feedback for the other buildings.
At last Wednesday's follow-up planning committee to approve minor changes made since September, Cllr Isobel Ballsdon said: "I really welcome the improvements.
"The fluid lines and new attractive curves draw the eye down and it's going to make a striking southern entrance to the Station Hill development."
Cllr Pete Ruhemann added: "This really raises the bar for Friar Street."
Borough strategic planning leader Cllr Tony Page said: "I'm hoping that this revived entrance onto Friar Street will act as a catalyst for future development once the economy gets back into its stride.
"Friar Street has been identified for a number of years as the 'Cinderella Street' of the town centre."
The planning officers' report says the finished B8 is likely to look like the version promised in the plans because of design restrictions imposed on the developers. The project still depends on Sir John Madejski's Sackville Developments finding partner developers to put up much of the money for the eight main buildings on the site.
Construction will take years but the plans are for offices, residential flats, a pub, a bowling alley, a cultural centre, a police and community unit and a gym, with public squares and shops.
For the full plans, visit: tinyurl.com/yauyxla
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