Revitalised Reading retail park changes to be decided

The Brunel Retail Park in Whitley has undergone something of a renaissance since Home Bargains opened in September and the relocation of B&M into larger premises.

The shopping area had a number of gaps following the closure of Next, Shoezone, Brantano Footwear and Go Outdoors.

Now the owning company of the shopping park has plans to merge vacant units into self-storage space.

READ MORE: New Home Bargains opens at Whitley retail park 

While part of the retail park has been revitalised, the other section has three vacant units which used to be occupied B&M, Laura Ashley and Subway.

Retail Park owners MCTGF have applied to merge units 7-11 so that they can be used for self-storage.

All these units are vacant other than unit 11, which is currently occupied by Costa Coffee.

The site plan for Brunel Retail Park in Whitley, showing occupying stores and the proposed self storage facility. Credit: Mountford Piggott

The plan would result in a net loss of 24 car parking spaces, as space would be taken up by the storage facility yard.

The facility would have a total of 13 parking spaces, made up of nine standard spaces, two electric vehicle charging points, one disabled space and one space reserved for families with children.

Other external changes would allow for six new trees to be planted.

READ MORE: B&M expands as part of huge retail park transformation

The increase in planting has been praised by Reading Borough Council planning officer Alison Amoah.

In her verdict of the plan, she said: “The proposal would provide additional greening of the site with a net gain in tree planting.

“It would also meet local economic objectives by providing a storage site and would bring vacant units back into use.”

She also praised sustainability measures such as the installation of 153sqm of solar panels on the roof of the storage facility.

A CGI of what Brunel Retail Park in Whitley could look like once it is redeveloped. Credit: Ridge

The plan has been recommended for approval, with a decision on it set to be made by the council’s planning applications committee on Wednesday, December 6.

You can view the application by typing reference 230953 into the council’s planning portal.

Brunel Retail Park has had a curious recent planning history.

Prior to planning and licensing approvals which allowed for Home Bargains to open and B&M to relocate, a plan (reference 201853) would have seen the retail park demolished entirely and replaced with two new buildings reserved for general industry and distribution.

An impression for a wholesale redevelopment of Brunel Retail Park in Whitley which appears to have been shelved. Credit: Fletcher Rae

That plan was approved in July 2021. While the permission is still extant, it appears to have been shelved given the successful opening of Home Bargains and B&M.

At the same time,  MCTGF also won approval (plan reference 201842) to consolidate units 1-6 for retail space.

This plan allowed for the retention of Pets Corner, Halfords and the units currently occupied by B&M and Home Bargains.