On January 31, Thames Tap held a round table at which there was virtually unanimous agreement that delegates had observed something of a post-election boom in activity.
Judging by the stories coming up this week, the boom is continuing. Reading’s Broad Street Mall has long had plans to build hundreds of flats at the centre and this week the scheme goes before councillors.
The proposed new leisure development at The Oracle will be discussed at the same meeting, Swindon Borough Council is pressing ahead with its £25 million bid to fund a Bus Boulevard, the massive Manydown scheme at Basingstoke goes before planners this month, Arlington Business Park has been sold, a major new scheme at Maidenhead is on the way and there are even signs that there might be progress in the debacle over South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan.
Perhaps much of it is co-incidence but, given the current threats to the world which inevitably affect our industry (the postponement of MIPIM for example), it’s hard not to conclude that of all the places to be involved in commerce or property, the Thames Valley is far from the worst.
