Two industrial units could replace Reading’s Brunel Retail Park.
Mayfair Capital, which acquired the site in Rose Kiln Lane a year ago, has submitted plans with its asset manager Westmount Real Estate, to demolish the entire 121,939 sq ft development of 13 shop and food and drink units and replace it with two industrial buildings totalling 143,977 sq ft.
The proposal is made in two applications, one for the complete redevelopment of the 3.5-hectare site for an industrial/warehouse building of 97,900 sq ft and one of 46,077.
The second application is for the retention of the western section of the retail park with just the smaller of the two new buildings going ahead.
The design and access statement by planning consultant Quod states: “Structural changes in the retail warehouse market over the last few years, particularly as sales shift to online, have led to distress in the sector and increased vacancy rates across the country.
“Fundamentally, there is too much retail space in the UK to support these new patterns of demand. Our strategy seeks to ‘right-size’ the retail park in a phased approach to allow full occupancy and increased vibrancy.”
It says Reading suffers a shortage of last mile urban logistics units.
Fletcher Rae UK is architect and masterplanner for the scheme. TTP Consulting is transport planner.
Image: Google.
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