Huge offices in Reading could be turned into 93 flats

The Kennet Place offices in Kings Road have stood since 1992 in a prominent location next to the old Huntley & Palmers building just east of the town centre.

It previously served as offices for the Prudential insurance company, which eventually vacated the building, in a process that was announced in 2019.

Kennet Place also served as a temporary job centre, with the Department of Work and Pensions vacating the building in recent years as well.

Following a marketing exercise, there is now a project to turn it into residential apartments.

There are adverts for the building on a dedicated 'Kennet Place' website and the LoopNet online marketplace, which stated it was put on the market in May 2022.

Stated benefits of the offices for employers include 24-hour access and security, shower facilities and even a restaurant for employees.

The building's own website states: "Kennet Place is a prime HQ office building with an engaging front-of-house team, having recently undergone an impressive refurbishment it now boasts a double height reception and smart office space ready for occupation.

The atrium at the Kennet Place offices in Kings Road, Reading. (Image: Brooks Murray Architects)

"With packages available to suit all needs, we can offer fully fitted suites to an open plan office in a range of sizes.

"Overlooking the canal and benefiting from a shared raised garden, Kennet Place creates a sense of wellbeing for all its occupiers."

However, there were apparently no takers for the offices, with the company S&S Quality Contractors applying to convert it into 93 self-contained flats.

Of those, 65 would have one-bedroom and 28 would have two-bedrooms, with flats being provided from the ground floor to the fourth floor.

Future occupants would be able to make use of an underground car park with 109 spaces accessed from Gas Works Road.

The underground car parking with 109 spaces at the Kennet Place offices in Kings Road, Reading. (Image: Brooks Murray Architects)

Of those, five would be reserved as disabled spaces and three reserved for visitors. 

There was an early indication that Kennet Place could be converted into housing as it appeared as a 'suggested site' for 60-100 homes in the Reading Local Partial Update.

READ MORE: Listed: the nine huge sites that could be turned into thousands of homes in Reading

The building is very likely to be converted into flats as the conversion of office buildings into housing has been considered permitted development since changes to planning rules were made in 2013.

However, larger conversions require 'prior approval' from the local planning authority to determine that minimum living standard rules would be adhered to. 

These rules dictate the minimum size for new flats, access to daylight requirements and protection from noise disturbance for future occupants. 

The conversion project has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.  You can view the application by typing reference PL/24/0997 into the council's planning portal.