New food retailer set to take over Boots in Calcot

Situated along the A4 Bath Road, the shopping area known as the Savacentre has a variety of stores including a Sainsbury's superstore with a fuel station, Sports Direct, B&M, a McDonald's and a Boots chemist.

But Boots could soon go and be replaced with a retailer.

A plan has been submitted to allow food and drink sales at Unit 1 of Savacentre, currently occupied by Boots and situated next to Sports Direct.

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Boots remains open from 8am to 8pm each day, but information from planning agents Quod states the chemists is close to 'reaching its lease expiry'.

Rumours have spread online that the unit could be occupied by peri-peri chicken chain Nando's, however this is not confirmed.

Plan sketches by Boyle + Summers lack detail, with the proposed floor plan only stating the 10,023 square metre floorspace for the unit.

The proposed floorplan for Unit 1 of the Savacentre shopping area off Bath Road in Calcot. (Image: Boyle + Summers)

Furthermore, the description of the plan states that the application is to allow the 'unrestricted use' of the unit 'including the sale of both non-food and food and drink products'.

Others have theorised that it could become a discount store or a supermarket.

You can view the application by typing reference 24/00863/FUL into West Berkshire Council's planning portal.

The plans were shared by councillor Jane Stewart (Conservatives, Tilehurst Birch Copse) to inform neighbours.

If Nando's do choose to occupy the unit, it would be its fourth peri-peri restaurant in the town, with other sites in Broad Street, The Oracle and Reading Gateway in Whitley.