Reading Police Station relocation delayed after builders go bust

The town’s division of Thames Valley Police were due to move to Atlantis House near Green Park this month but that switch has now been delayed and officers will remain at their Castle Street site for the time being.

TVP would not comment on when they expect to finally relocate to Atlantic House after questions from the Chronicle.

The delay comes as construction company Midas Group went into administration in February.

READ MORE: Why are Thames Valley Police leaving Reading town centre?

According to a report from Construction News, the firm owed £22 million to creditors at the time of its collapse.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said Midas was in charge of organising the relocation of Reading Police Station.

They said: “Thames Valley Police currently has a contracts with the Midas Group for building projects across the force – including the replacement for the current Reading Police Station.

Reading Police Station

“The force has been aware that [Midas] has been facing issues for several months and has been working to ensure contingency plans were in place.

“Following confirmation that the company has gone into administration last month (February), the force is exploring all options available to ensure we can continue with the successful delivery of these projects in the future.

“We will ensure the public is kept up to date with the new timeline, once its finalised.

READ MORE: Council failed in bid to buy Reading Police Station

“We remain absolutely committed to serving the people of Reading and we will ensure that this delay does not have any impact on the service we provide.

“Staff will remain at the current site until Atlantic House is ready for occupation.”

Atlantic House is located on Imperial Way, Reading, in between the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Green Park business park and Whitley Wood.

This is a 11-minute drive away from their current base on Castle Street in Reading town centre.

So, why are TVP moving to Green Park?

Atlantic House was purchased by TVP back in 2019, and the service originally hoped to move into the site in early 2021.

The TVP spokesperson said the three-storey Imperial Way site had been selected as it allows the service to “provide a modern, fit for purpose local police authority headquarters in Reading.”

Atlantic House. Image via Google

What’s wrong with the current site?

According to a spokesperson for the service, TVP has been looking for a replacement for Reading Police Station for “some time” (with a previous report suggesting police started looking for a move away in 2012).

READ MORE: Man caught carrying weapons near Reading Police Station

This is because the existing building is in a “poor state of repair”.

The Castle Street site, which was built in the early 1970s, is also “expensive to run” and “too large” for the service’s current requirements.

Does this mean TVP won’t have a town-centre base?

Last year, a spokesperson from Thames Valley Police told the Chronicle the force is still intending to have a presence in Reading town centre.

They said a local neighbourhood team will be based at a new facility.

READ MORE: Reading woman jailed after stripping naked and dancing at Reading Police Station

Back in 2019, John Campbell, Chief Constable of the force, said: “Thames Valley Police will be looking to secure a visible town centre facility to include a front counter, town centre facing neighbourhood base and office facilities, to support policing of the busy town centre.”

However, when questioned this month about a new town centre base, a TVP spokesperson did not comment on whether plans for this new facility are still being pursued.