Two town centre schemes by Thackeray Estates go before councillors in Reading on Wednesday (December 7), both recommended for approval.
The developer has come back with fresh plans for its QVS1 scheme of a courtyard, apart-hotel and retail units at the Friar Street/Queen Victoria Street junction, which councillors initially voted to approve in June 2021. That permission was never finalised since the s106 has not been completed.
Instead Thackeray has amended plans by including two retail units (a newsagent and the northern section of WH Smith) into its scheme which will allow extra retail in its scheme and for the apart-hotel to expand. Retail units in Queen Victoria Street will give access into the courtyard which Thackeray says will be improved. The proposals for QVS1 include listed building consent for some of the alterations.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting councillors will consider QVS2 (pictured), Thackeray’s neighbouring scheme for a 163-room Jury’s Inn hotel in Friar Street which will replace Eyesite, Revolucion de Cuba and the vacant Bugle public house, the façade, roof and eastern side of which will be incorporated into the building.
The Bugle was locally listed by Reading Borough Council in July and the developer has said historic beams in the building will be removed and replaced during construction. The rear of the pub will be demolished and the basement filled in.
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