The Boots chemists and pharmacy is due to leave the huge Savacentre shopping area in Calcot to be replaced by a food retailer, a plan has revealed.
The Savacentre is a major shopping destination for people in Calcot, West Reading, Tilehurst and Theale, with a range of stores including Sainsbury's, Sports Direct and a Boots chemist.
Boots has been there for years where shoppers have bought their cosmetics and people have been able to collect their medication.
But a plan has emerged to allow food and drink sales in the unit Boots occupies.
Rumours have spread online that the unit could be occupied by peri-peri chicken chain Nando's, which currently has restaurants at The Oracle Riverside, Friar Street in the town centre and the Reading Gateway destination area in Whitley.
However, these rumours are unconfirmed, and designs submitted by planning agents Quod do not provide detail that the unit could host a restaurant.
The description of the plan states that site owners Threadneedle UK have submitted the application to allow the 'unrestricted use' of the unit 'including the sale of both non-food and food and drink products'.
That has led other neighbours to theorise that it could become a discount store such as Home Bargains or a supermarket.
Responding to concerns about the plan, a spokesperson for Boots has dispelled rumours that it will be closing any time soon.
The spokesperson said: “Boots is aware of this planning application but we would like to assure our customers that we have no plans to close our store in Calcot. Our lease of the building is secure for several more years.”
Boots remains open from 8am to 8pm each day.
Yet there are lingering concerns that the departure of Boots will lead to the loss of a pharmacy for people in the area, as a planning document states that the chemists are set to vacate as it is 'reaching its lease expiry'.
The Lloyds pharmacy in the Calcot Superstore closed at the Savacenter an announcement in January last year that 237 Sainsbury's locations.
People in the area can get medication at the following pharmacies:
Kamsons Pharmacy, High Street, Theale
Tilehurst Pharmacy, 7 School Road, Tilehurst
Triangle Pharmacy, 88-90 School Road, Tilehurst
Asda Pharmacy, Honey End Lane, Tilehurst
Medway Pharmacy, Unit 32, Meadway Precinct, Tilehurst
You can view the application for the food store by typing reference 24/00863/FUL into West Berkshire Council's planning portal.
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