An institution shop in Reading that lasted for 199 years will be immortalised in a name for a new estate in the town.

The Carters store occupied a prominent position in Caversham Road selling outdoor sports clothing and specialist equipment for snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding.

The well-known store closed in the Winter of 2019 after a total of 199 years of trading in Berkshire, with the company being founded in Thatcham in 1820 and moving to Caversham Road in 1962.

Development company Bellway Homes subsequently acquired the site and won permission to build 60 homes last February.

Now, the legacy of the business will live on as addresses for the new estate will be called ‘Carters Close’.

It comes as the council’s address naming process has come under scrutiny, with councillors complaining that name suggestions for the Emmer Green Drive development in Caversham did not appropriately reflect the heritage of that site as the Reading Golf Course.

READ MORE: Naming process for new streets in Reading lampooned by councillor 

But members of the council’s planning applications committee welcomed the name for the Carters site as they felt it suitably reflected the legacy of the closed store.

Councillor Richard Davies (Labour, Caversham) said: “I know that members of the committee are very interested in this topic, and are anxious that names do reflect the heritage of the area.

“I think it’s a really good and appropriate name because it commemorates a very popular and long-standing business that was probably used by most people in this room over the years, so thank you for that.”

Reading Chronicle: What the terraced four bedroom houses would look like at the Carters site in Caversham Road, Reading. Credit: RM_AWhat the terraced four bedroom houses would look like at the Carters site in Caversham Road, Reading. Credit: RM_A

The naming for the development was agreed unanimously by the council’s planning applications committee on Wednesday, January 10.

The suggestion of Carters Close was made by the council’s geographic information systems (GIS) team, which previously came under fire for suggesting street names for the Emmer Green Drive development which were rejected by councillors.

These proposed names included ‘Tallow Way’ in reflection of a form of lubricant that was once made in the area, and ‘Saunderson View’ named after a historic make of tractor. 

The Carters development will be made up of 10 four-bed houses, and three apartment blocks made up of 21 one-bed, 18 two-bed and 11 three-bed flats.

Reading Chronicle: A 60 home estate in Caversham Road, Reading will be named Carters Close in memory of the Carters outdoors equipment store, which closed in 2019. Credit: Reading Borough CouncilA 60 home estate in Caversham Road, Reading will be named Carters Close in memory of the Carters outdoors equipment store, which closed in 2019. Credit: Reading Borough Council

You can view the approved application by typing reference 221324 into the council’s planning portal.

Bellway Homes has since submitted details to the council to comply with conditions of the planning permission approved in February 2023.

These planning applications contain details relating to the construction methods, an energy statement for the proposed homes, the conduct of an archaeological evaluation and the developer’s sustainable drainage strategy, which were all submitted in September.

These details can be found by typing the postcode RG1 8AN into the council’s planning portal and searching for the address of the Carters site, 97a Caversham Road.