The full scheme details for the transformational, £750 million Station Hill development adjacent to Reading Station have been granted planning approval, securing the renewed vision for the scheme.
This latest approval, brought forward by the joint venture between Lincoln Property Company and MGT Investment Management (Lincoln MGT), will create a new gateway for Reading, comprising up to 625,000 sq ft best-in-class office space, 750 private and affordable homes, and over 60,000 sq ft of new lifestyle-led retail and leisure space, including potential for a 200-bed hotel and later living accommodation, and two acres of public realm. This will deliver a new and improved landscaped entrance to Reading which will play host to a series of curated, community-focussed events.
A prominent element of the proposal, One Station Hill, will be the first office building within the scheme, offering 275,000 sq ft of best-in-class workspace. There has been considerable occupational interest in this state-of-the-art building which offers amenities that, until now, have rarely been seen outside of the London market. This includes several onsite fitness facilities and concierge services, as well as its own tech-based ecosystem that will provide occupiers with complete control of their workspace.
Aimed at occupiers vying to win the ‘war for talent’, One Station Hill will go beyond the traditional standalone regional office space that dominates the market outside of London, including rooftop amenities with terrace, bar and lounge, direct access to 95,000 sq ft of independent retail, leisure and F&B, promoting the vibrancy of a new community and curated public realm that thousands will call home. The latter phases provide flexibility for a range of commercial and residential uses, providing a deliverable pathway for including later living and hotel accommodation, to meet the changing social and economic trends as the development programme progresses.
Once complete, this prominent site in the heart of Reading will combine with earlier residential phases to deliver up to 1,350 new homes, office accommodation for approximately 9,000 new jobs, lifestyle-led space for retail, cafes and restaurants, a new pedestrian link and activated public realm between the station and the town centre, becoming a new district and destination for Reading.
Lincoln MGT have commenced the preparatory works, with a view to having completed One Station Hill, a new public square, and link bridge through to the new 550+ BTR community and the town centre beyond by 2024.
The design of the project is being overseen by an international collective that features CallisonRTKL acting as the project masterplanner and architect for the residential and hotel buildings; Gensler as the architect for the commercial office buildings and LDA Design as landscape architects for the public realm.
Callum Thorneycroft, Managing Director at MGT Investment Management said:
“From the start on site in the Spring, to the completion of One Station Hill in 2024 – the real work starts now. However, we know that our focus on and expertise in placemaking will set Station Hill apart, and we are thoroughly looking forward to seeing our transformative vision for Reading become a reality.
“Station Hill will deliver an exceptional mixed-use environment offering a true live-work location adjacent to Reading Train Station and the start of The Elizabeth Line. The scheme has been designed to give occupiers and their employees an activated, energised ecosystem with amenities on hand and multi modal travel connections to draw on a wide pool of talent. The quality of the office space will drive occupier’s productivity and in a post Covid world, will help to bring employees back to the office to a safe and inspirational space.
“We believe in Reading’s potential, and this decision provides the positive momentum that the town needs at this crucial juncture. Not only will Station Hill provide an opportunity to improve the way in which people live, work, invest in and visit this town, it will create a platform for Reading to fulfil its potential as the true capital of the South East. The time for Station Hill is now.”
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