Reading’s Gillette factory has been given locally listed status by the council to protect its historical and architectural significance.

Councillor Jason Brock said in 2017 that the building is ‘one of the most beautiful buildings in Reading’ and he was ‘surprised’ it had not been listed.Reading Borough Council (RBC) have recognised the importance of the 1930s front building at the 452 Basingstoke Road factory, including the clock tower.

Councillor Rachel Eden, who initially put the building forward for local listing, said: “I think we are all really pleased that the building has been locally listed.

“A lot of people have very fond memories of the building.”

Local listing aims to ensure that the historic and architectural interest of buildings of local importance, which do not meet the nationally listing criteria, is taken account of during the planning process.

Unlike nationally listed buildings, locally listed buildings do not have statutory protection, but consent is still required to develop on them.

The factory is considered to have a unique position in Whitley and the wider Reading community because of its art deco style and almost 80 years of landmark status.

Built in the 1930s, the factory has external features which may date back to 1914.

Planning officers said the building may have been based on another Gillette factory in Brentford, which has Grade II listed status and was also built in the 1930s.

The northern half of the factory and the tower were built by Williamson Manufacturing in the 1930s to house some of their operations away from London in advance of the outbreak of the Second World War.

The company was famous for aerial mapping and reconnaissance cameras.

After Williamson Manufacturing, the building was occupied by cosmetics company Bourjois, the cosmetics company, who produced soap and perfume.

Gillette has since used the factory for production of safety razors and other equipment.

The company did not build the southern half of the building until the 1950s but is in the same style, with planning officers stating that it adds to the overall impact of the building as an important local landmark.

The building is also considered to have social significance in its development of one of Reading’s communities, Whitley.

RBC backed plans for a neighbouring church in December 2018, despite warnings of a potential boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion at the Gillette factory and risk of death.