IT IS no secret that major changes have happened to Reading’s biggest shopping centre this year.
The Oracle Shopping Centre has undergone some of the biggest changes in 2023 since it opened in 1999.
The centre straddles the River Kennet, being made up of a large mall and car park on its north bank, and restaurants and a Vue Cinema on its south bank.
Oracle operators Hammerson has had plans to make changes for years, but the most dramatic changes have happened in 2022 and 2023, with a scheme for hundreds of flats being revealed, and approval being granted for the transformation of the ‘anchor’ department stores.
Here is a timeline of how transformation plans for The Oracle have developed:
November 2019: Signs of transformation as plans submitted for House of Fraser
Early signs that Hammerson wanted to make changes to The Oracle were revealed in 2019 when a plan was submitted to convert the House of Fraser into a leisure destination with bowling and mini golf facilities and a restaurant.
January 2020: Handmade Burger Co closes down
The burger chain, which occupied the last restaurant unit on the south bank of the Kennet suddenly closed in January 2020 and never reopened.
March 2020: Debenhams closes down, House of Fraser conversion approved
Debenhams the department store which was opened in 1999 closed in March 2020 during the first coronavirus lockdown and never reopened.
In the same month, the conversion plan for the House of Fraser with leisure facilities was approved.
Chick-fil-A, a chicken restaurant also closed at this time after sparking controversy when it opened in October 2019.
December 2020: Next Beauty & Home opens
The Debenhams unit was only left unoccupied for a short time, as Next Beauty & Home opened in part of the unit ready for December 2, 2020, the end of the second coronavirus lockdown of that year.
July 2022: Initial plans for flats at The Oracle revealed
Huge initial plans for the transformation of the eastern portion of The Oracle were revealed in July 2022.
The proposals involved the part demolition of the Debenhams unit and the replacement of the Vue Cinema and restaurants building so that towers containing a total of 475 apartments could be built.
At the time, the Local Democracy Reporting Service identified that the Vue Cinema, Next Beauty & Home and six existing restaurants were at risk due to the proposals.
January 2023: Oracle flats plans submitted
Finalised proposals for the addition of flats to The Oracle were validated this year.
The plan would see restaurant units reduced from seven to two, with new space for the Vue Cinema being created south of the Kennet, and co-working space being created to the north.
The amount of apartments proposed went down by 26, with Hammerson hoping to build a total of 449 flats.
June 2023: Plans for the division of department stores submitted
In early summer, a plan to divide the House of Fraser and Debenhams department stores was submitted.
The scheme involved dividing each store into three units, while retaining at least 1,000 sqm of floorspace for future department store use.
August 2023: Next Beauty & Home closes
Next Beauty & Home closed down after under three years in Reading on August 12.
September 2023: Plans for division of department stores approved
The plan for the division of the House of Fraser and former Debenhams stores was approved at a planning committee meeting on September 6.
Shortly afterwards, Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurants suddenly closed, clearing the way for Hammerson’s redevelopment plans.
October 2023: House of Fraser closes
House of Fraser closed down on October 28 after being one of the first to open in 1999.
It meant that Yo Sushi also had to close as well.
What next?
Now both department stores are closed, more details will be submitted to Reading Borough Council’s planning department about the division scheme.
Once these details are approved work can begin to divide the two old stores.
Meanwhile, the plan for a total of 449 flats and new buildings at The Oracle will be decided at a future council planning committee meeting, but no decision date has been set yet.
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