Getting High

With over ten thousand new units currently being proposed for development in central Reading alone (see the interactive map below), there is an increasing trend towards the sky as proposed developments 'inch' taller and taller from one planning application to the next. Is this a good thing, or is our skyline being destroyed ?

It seems that many of these new towers (you can hardly call them skyscrapers) are being built to rent - a leading local estate agent told inReading that 'if they build it, we will rent it..'.

Just as there seems to be little demand for commercial buildings in our town, which used to be the most in demand commercial centre in Britain, indeed many offices are being converted to flats under 'permitted development' rules - there now seems to be insatiable demand for flats of any type.

Currently the tallest building in Reading is the iconic Blade (formerly Abbey Mill House) at 15 floors (one of which is a basement), standing at 282 ft (86m) including its antenna. It was built between 2007 and 2009. It replaced redundant 1960s Reading borough council offices, a former pub, and a small church hall.

The second tallest completed building, and the one with the most floors at 22, is the recently completed residential rental Thames Quarter tower beside the railway line on the Reading Bridge roundabout at 239ft ( 73m ).

Another icon, the red hued Thames Tower adjacent to the station currently comes in third, but is being usurped by its neighbour at One Station Hill, which will be a couple of floors taller. Originally an eleven storey building, there had been plans back in 2012 to demolish it and replace it with a 25 storey buildings, but this was subsequently rejected as not being commercially viable. However, a further four floors were added, bringing it to a height of 180 feet (55m). An interesting trivial fact is that the tower is owned by Spelthorne Borough Council (ie the good people of Staines on Thames).

The Verto building (formerly King's Point) at 120 King's Road is another building that pushed upwards limits when it was completed a few years ago.

But the upward limits are being challenged once more. Plans are being prepared to build 31 floor flats above Broad Street Mall by the owners AEW. Similar proposals are afoot by JLL at The Oracle.

The Verto building (formerly King's Point) at 120 King's Road is another building that pushed upwards limits when it was completed a few years ago.

But the upward limits are being challenged once more. Plans are being prepared to build 31 floor flats above Broad Street Mall by the owners AEW. Similar proposals are afoot by JLL at The Oracle.

Did you know that the highest point in Reading, though remains the Tilehurst Water Tower located at Park Lane, Tilehurst, built by Reading Corporation in 1932.