Bank in Reading town centre set to be divided in two

HSBC has decided to “vacate and surrender” part of the building at 26-28 Broad Street, returning it to the landlord in what it calls "exciting plans" to bring the branch "up to date".

The building is on the corner of Broad Street and Queen Victoria Street.

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Jon Andrews, HSBC UK’s Local Director for Reading, said: “We are working on exciting plans to bring our Reading Broad Street branch up to date with our latest branch designs and technology that will make banking easier for our customers.

"We have taken a good look at the premises and are formally separating an area that is not generally used and won’t be used going forward, enabling it to be turned into another retail unit for the town.

"We will try to minimise any disruption to the branch with the work that will be taking place later in the year, but looking forward to updating this branch and giving our customers the best banking experience.”

There will be no reduction in service as a result of the redesign of the branch and no jobs are at risk.

The work will be carried out in two phases, firstly the formal separation of the area that is not needed and then a full branch refurbishment later in the year.

The Broad Street section of the building will remain as it it, with part of the Queen Victoria Street section becoming another unit, as shown in the image below.

All HSBC signage on the part of the building that the bank is vacating will be removed and ATMs will also be removed.

The unit will be separated to form two separate units, with internal walls reinstated.

All HSBC signage on the part of the building that the bank is vacating will be removed and ATMs will also be removed.

The landlord or a new tenant at the vacant unit will submit a separate application in the future to redevelop the site once HSBC has vacated.

Further works will also be required at the vacant unit to reinstate a staircase.

The bank is one of nine on Broad Street, the town’s main street for shopping.

The application to planning permission was submitted to the council on April 30.

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26-28 Broad Street has significant architectural features, including grey brick with terracotta dressings. HSBC say the works will not compromise the character of the grade II listed building.

There are no proposed works that directly affect the existing structure or any existing original historic features of the building.

A grade II listed building in the town centre – home to HSBC – is set to be split in two, under new plans submitted to Reading Borough Council (RBC)

HSBC has decided to “vacate and surrender” part of the building at 26-28 Broad Street, returning it to the landlord.

The building is on the corner of Broad Street and Queen Victoria Street.

READ MORE: Plans submitted for minigolf and archery activity centre at Prospect Park

The unit will be separated to form two separate units, with internal walls reinstated.

The Broad Street part of the building will remain as it it, with part of the Queen Victoria Street section becoming another unit, as shown in the image below.

The planned split of the building

All HSBC signage on the part of the building that the bank is vacating will be removed and ATMs will also be removed.

The landlord or a new tenant at the vacant unit will submit a separate application in the future to redevelop the site once HSBC has vacated.

Further works will also be required at the vacant unit to reinstate a staircase.

The bank is one of nine on Broad Street, the town’s main street for shopping.

READ MORE: Five-year derelict salvage yard could become six flats and a house

The application to planning permission was submitted to the council on April 30.

26-28 Broad Street has significant architectural features, including grey brick with terracotta dressings. HSBC say the works will compromise the character of the grade II listed building.

There are no proposed works that directly affect the existing structure or any existing original historic features of the building.