Changes to The Oracle Reading explained amid closures

The Oracle first opened in 1999 as a hub for shopping in the town and the wider area, on riverside land that used to be occupied by the Courage Brewery and the Reading Transport depot.

It was opened with much fanfare, anchored by the huge Debenhams and House of Fraser stores.

But this month, Reading Borough Council’s planning committee approved a scheme to divide both department stores into three flexible units each.

Shortly after the plans were approved, restaurants Franco Manca and The Real Greek were seen closed, following the earlier closure of the Next Beauty & Home store in the former Debenhams Unit in August.

The former Debenhams unit at The Oracle now fully vacant as Next Beauty & Home, Franco Manca and The Real Greek have all closed. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The closure of the shop and two restaurants clears the way for a 19-storey building containing up to 202 build-to-rent apartments to be constructed.

This residential tower would be made up of a studio flat, 129 one-bed, two three-bed and 70 two-bed apartments.

At ground level, plans show the former Debenhams unit transformed to provide a restaurant, co-working space, a leisure unit and a retail unit.

It’s understood these spaces will cover the lower and upper mall levels, with the rest of the floors being turned over to apartments.

A CGI of the reconfiguration of the lower mall for The Oracle shopping centre redevelopment in Reading. Credit: The Oracle Ltd Partnership / Turley

On the opposite side of the river, Hammerson wants to build 247 apartments contained in a 16-storey building.

This new tower would be made up of 22 studios, 117 one-bed, 98 two-bed and 10 three-bed homes.

These plans have been divided into the former Debenhams unit, called Yield Hall Place 1 (planning reference 221916) and the Vue and restaurants building called Yield Hall Place 2 (planning reference 221917).

The proposed ground floor plan for both of the new buildings at the eastern portion of The Oracle in Reading. Credit: The Oracle Limited Partnership / Turley

Planning documents for both schemes were submitted last December, with no date set for a decision on the schemes to be made yet.

You can view the documents by typing the references above into the council’s planning portal.

To move ahead with Yield Hall Place 2, the Vue Cinema, Browns, Miller & Carter, TGI Fridays and Cote Brasserie would all have to close.

A new cinema and single restaurant unit would be provided within the new building.

There is less progress on the changes at the western portion of The Oracle north of the River Kennet.

House of Fraser is set to close on Saturday, November 4.

Once that is done, work will take place to divide the shop into three separate flexible-use units.

A minimum of  1,000 sqm will be preserved as department store space, but it is not clear whether this will be located in the House of Fraser unit or the former Debenhams unit.