Plans for a new indoor market, restaurant and bar at the former Poundland and Stacks stores in Broad Street Mall were approved last night (June 26), despite concerns from police.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee backed the plans, which are part of wider development proposals at Hosier Street including a 100-room Premier Inn hotel and 500 flats.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Planning, praised ‘the first serious investment for decades at Broad Street Mall’.

He asked for conditions to be inserted to make sure no ‘noxious fumes’ are produced by an extraction unit, complaining that a ‘peri peri’ establishment on the other side of the mall had been doing so.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) raised concerns over safety and accessibility but committee members were satisified with the application.

The development is part of revamped Hosier Street plans, which could include a 100-room Premier Inn Hotel and 500 flats.

The plans are for a mixed use informal market space containing stalls, as well as a restaurant and bar.

The opening hours will be between 9am and 11pm and 9am Monday to Friday and until 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Only 20 per cent of the ground floor area will be used as a bar.