Plan to replace office complex on outskirts of Reading

Shire Hall in Shinfield Park was built as the offices of the County Council with the building being completed in 1981.

After the County Council was dissolved in 1998, Shire Hall was occupied by the Foster Wheeler global engineering conglomerate, which merged into the Wood Group in 2017.

The building served as the headquarters of Wood until very recently.

Now, the building itself could be demolished and replaced with six logistics units, as the site has been bought in an 'off the market' deal.

Shire Hall has been acquired by the Fiera Real Estate investment management company and Wrenbridge property developers.

Shire Hall, Shinfield Park, the former offices of Berkshire County Council. Now the six local authorities are linking up to seek opportunities. Credit: Google Maps

The companies plan to replace Shire Hall with six logistics units ranging from  20,000 to 88,000 sq ft, with a projected value of £75 million.

Chris Button, head of investment management at Fiera Real Estate, said: “This project will showcase the power of combining institutional capital prepared to undertake speculative development with the  entrepreneurial flair and technical know-how of Wrenbridge.”

As developers, Wrenbridge is focused on commercial properties.

READ MORE: Berkshire councils join forces to seek county-wide opportunities 

The purchasers have touted Shire Hall as an ideal location to the south of Reading, a mile from Junction 11 of the M4 and a 30-minute journey to Junction 15 of the M25 for Heathrow.

Ben Coles, the chief executive of Wrenbridge, said: “We are delighted to have completed another prime logistics acquisition backed by Fiera.

“It's another brilliant location that we believe will attract occupiers out of London to pay some sensible rents.

“It’s another piece of the jigsaw puzzle for prime sites we are purchasing that wrap around North, East and West London outside the M25.

“We are keen for more opportunities.”

No plans have appeared yet, but once they are ready, they will be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council, the planning authority for Shinfield.

The news comes as Wood plc moved to Green Park this month.

Advertising consent for Wood to install its sign for the new offices at 400 Longwater Avenue was approved by Reading Borough Council in May.

Shire Hall in Shinfield Park was purpose-built as the Berkshire County Council offices after county councils received more powers from the Local Goverment Act of 1972.

The complex cost £27.5 million, was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982, and is known as an example of 'Brutalist' concrete architecture.

The original Shire Hall is situated at The Forbury in Reading town centre.

It stopped being used as the County Council offices when the facility in Shinfield Park was opened in 1981, being turned over to commercial use.

Shire Hall in the town centre became a hotel in 2006, and has been run as The Roseate Hotel since June 2019.