Reading Council reveals £20 million bid to revitalise Hexagon and Central Library

A bid for £20 million of government cash is to be made by Reading Borough Council to move its Central Library to the civic offices and extend the Hexagon Theatre.

The council's bid to the Levelling Up fund is made up of two elements: an £8 million investment to rebuild Central Library at the Council’s Civic Offices in Bridge Street, and a £12 million investment to revitalise Reading’s much-loved and popular Hexagon Theatre.

The council says the existing Central Library on the King’s Road is well-used, but is located in a dated building which is set over a series of floors, making accessibility difficult without significant investment.

A brand-new custom-built Central Library added to the current Civic Offices site would create a modern and open space, offering a much-improved, accessible environment for everyone.

The ambition would be to create a flexible space for the whole community that embraces not only the traditional offer of book loans but looks to the future with our digital and learning offer.

Meanwhile, the 1970s-built Hexagon has a number of limitations for future improvements due to its design and age.

The proposal is to extend to the right-hand side of the existing building with an entrance directly off Queens Walk offering much-improved accessibility and new multi-function community space that can accommodate a wider variety of performances and uses.

If the council’s bid is successful, this will form the first phase of a longer-term regeneration of the Hexagon.

The Hexagon development feeds into the council’s wider plans to create the ‘Minster Quarter’, transforming a significant area of the town centre by building hundreds of new homes – including much-needed affordable housing and creating a new heart to the community in this location - as well as bringing new jobs and growth which will benefit local residents and the local economy.

Both proposals focus heavily on improved sustainability as part of the council’s commitment to working towards a net-zero carbon Reading by 2030.

The council’s bid is to the Government’s Round 2 Levelling Up Fund and – if successful - would be match-funded 10 per cent by the Council from its own capital investment fund.

A bid is set to be submitted in July, with news of whether it has been successful expected in autumn 2022.

Reading Council leader Jason Brock said: “Both the Hexagon Theatre and Reading Central Library are major institutions in our town which continue to be very well-used and extremely popular.

"I think most people would agree with me, however, when I say that both buildings are dated and present limitations to improving our future cultural and learning offer to local residents.

“This Levelling Up funding pot now offers us the opportunity to do just that. If we are successful in our bid, it will offer us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalise and breathe new life into the cultural and learning offer in this part of Reading.

"A brand-new and additional flexible performance and community space would be created at the Hexagon Theatre. We would also construct a modern new custom-built Reading Central Library at the Civic Offices site on Bridge Street.

"Importantly, both projects would enable us to ensure much-improved accessibility so that everyone can use and enjoy the facilities.

“As a council, we are always looking for opportunities to invest in even better facilities for residents, whether that be brand new leisure centres and swimming pools, new affordable homes, new and refurbished train stations, cycle facilities or new playgrounds, to name but a few.

"These bids continue with that theme of investing in Reading and fit with this Council’s ambition to create new opportunities for everybody in the town.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to feed back their initial thoughts, which will help inform the final project.”