New Reading plans for student accommodation in King's Road submitted to council

If the project, submitted to Reading Borough Council, is approved, the development will be built on the site of vacant office building Alexander House.

The plans for a 182-bedroom student housing complex would bring the vacant site back into use and help meet the demand from Reading’s growing student population.

The site is in close proximity to higher and further educational centres, including Reading College and both the University of Reading’s main campuses.

PJ Alexander Estates Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of local property developer Jansons Property, submitted the planning application.

The company has significant experience of the Reading market, having delivered the McDonald's and Lidl development on Oxford Road and the Oldfield Retail Park on Basingstoke Road.

The new building has been designed by award-winning local architects, Broadway Malyan.

Reading Design Review Panel reviewed the emerging proposals in November and praised them as a "high-quality contextual building," describing the design as "very elegant."

Prior to submitting a planning application, a public exhibition was held in December at Reading College.

The proposed development would include demolition of the existing office and the construction of a new building with more than seven storeys plus a lower ground floor, together with ancillary landscaping, parking and amenity space.

Residents and stakeholders had the opportunity to view the proposals and provide feedback, with a majority of respondents agreeing the site needs to be redeveloped and is a sustainable location for student accommodation.

Ben Roberts of PJ Alexander Estates Ltd said: "This high-quality development will help meet the significant need for purpose-built student accommodation in Reading.

"We look forward to working positively with Reading Borough Council, residents and stakeholders to achieve a favourable outcome in the coming months."