\n The consortium in charge of the Station Hill development revealed detailed plans to build 598 apartments last September.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The project involves the demolition of Xafinity House, previously called the Hogg Robinson building, to make way for two new apartment buildings.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n The development will be\u00a0car-free, save for four disabled spaces, and provide 75 affordable rent flats.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n While outlines for the project were approved back in 2021, because of the scale of the development and the details involved, a decision on the project was made at a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Councillor David Stevens (Labour, Abbey), who represents the town centre, said: \u201cI remember the old bus station and the Hogg Robinson building, and frankly it’s not difficult to make an improvement on that.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cBut what they have done, I think, is excellent. We’ve seen what the developers have already done at Station Hill and Ebb & Flow, and frankly, if they continue with that level of quality, the public space and realm is comparable to what they’ve done already, I think it will be an excellent addition to this area.\n<\/p>\n
\n The site for Phase 3A of the Station Hill development in Reading, which involves the demolition of Xafinity House in the background. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt’s somewhat of a backwater at the moment, there are a number of businesses, I think one pub on the corner, it’s really essentially office or closed office space; I think this will really revitalise Greyfriars Road and Garrard Street, so I think this is excellent.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt’s a great and welcome addition.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The area has two pubs, The Greyfriar<\/a>, which has been open for 12 years, and The Gateway, which was renamed The Railway Tavern last year<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n \u2600\ufe0f Stay informed this summer with unlimited access to trusted local news from the Reading Chronicle.<\/p>\n Subscribe today and save 50% on a digital subscription. \ud83d\udcf0<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd17 Sign up now: https:\/\/t.co\/suPDT30Zme<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/a2NAv5v7aJ<\/a>\n <\/p>\n