Councillors approved self-storage use for much of Brunel Retail Park in Reading on Wednesday – but it was revealed retailer The Range has signed up to open a store there.
Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee approved Mayfair Capital’s plans to amalgamate units 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, most of which are vacant, for an unnamed self-storage operator, at its December 6 meeting.
Mayfair already has permission to turn the whole site into industrial units but principal planning officer Alison Amoah revealed to Wednesday’s meeting that another option was on the table for the eastern end of the park.
She told the meeting: “The applicant is now exploring alternative options for this end of the retail park. The application before you tonight is one of two applications currently under consideration.
“The other application, which is under delegated authority and is not yet determined, is for retailer The Range to actually take some of those units but including 6b.”
The application for The Range reveals it would be seeking 3,753 sq ft across units 6b, 7, 8, and 9 including a mezzanine floor. All those units are currently vacant but, unlike the self-storage plan, The Range plan does not include the former Subway and existing Costa Coffee units which were added to the retail park following approval in 2014.
The application by Mayfair Capital to accommodate The Range, submitted in September, states: “Following the lettings to Home Bargains and B&M, occupier interest in the retail park by other retailers (and self-storage operators) has increased.
“Heads of Terms have now been agreed with the national retailer, The Range, to occupy Units 6b, 7, 8 and 9. An Agreement for Lease is now being drafted with the completion of the lease subject to the landlord obtain planning permission for The Range’s to be able sell its full range of retail goods, the majority of which can already been sold from the units.”
We have asked The Range if it plans a move from its Vastern Road store or to have two in Reading and will update when we get a response.
Also approved at the planning applications committee meeting were separate plans for 82 homes and a care home in four separate applications across the borough and for a family entertainment centre at the Broad Street Mall.
© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.
