Reading: Thackeray Estate invests £30m in town buildings

The company is seeking planning permission to redevelop and refurbish the buildings into mixed-use spaces including retail, and affordable modern office suites, three of which have already been completed on 145 Friar Street, as well as a hotel and residential apartments.

The retail development is part of The Thackeray Estate’s £100m expansion plan and has the potential to become a large-scale scheme.

Highlights  of the development are:

• The two Grade II listed corner buildings at the entrance to Queen Victoria Street, and a pedestrianised thoroughfare which links Reading railway station to the town centre make up about 40,000 sq ft (the Corner Buildings). Thackeray’s aim is to create a bustling village at the gateway of Reading, heralding the town’s economic prosperity and heritage.

• The Thackeray Estate has recently delivered three office suites on Friar Street.

• The ground floors of the Corner Buildings will be improved to attract retail outlets and an indoor market and foodhall. Pop up stands will be created to show case international cuisines and other retail offerings.

• The upper floors of the Corner Buildings will be converted into offices.

Charles Thompson, director at The Thackeray Estate, said: “We are delighted to be investing in Reading, an economically important and strategically located town rich in culture and heritage. Like so many of our previous projects including the recently completed Eastcheap Estate, our vision is to create a bustling village at the gateway of the town centre with an array of international eateries, retail outlets, modern offices and hotels. Importantly, these buildings will be restored with care and quality that is synonymous with Thackeray’s ethos and brought back to its former glory.”