Station Hill development, Reading

{{Infobox building

| name = Station Hill

| native_name =

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| image = CGI_of_Station_Hill.jpg

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| caption = CGI of Station Hill

| location = Station Hill, Reading, England

| coordinates = {{coord|51.45763|-0.974212|region:GB|display=inline,title}}

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| completion_date = 2024 (first two phases)

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| architect = CallisonRTKL and Gensler

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| owner = Lincoln MGT

| cost = £750 million

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| website = {{URL|www.stationhill.co.uk}}

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| map_type = United Kingdom Reading Central

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| map_caption = Location within Reading Town Centre

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| building_type = Residential, Office, Retail and Lifestyle

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The Station Hill development is an ongoing redevelopment project in Reading, England. It occupies a site between Friar Street and Station Hill in the centre of Reading, and takes its name from the latter. It is a mixed development, with several apartment blocks aligned towards Friar Street, and (as yet) one office tower aligned towards the station. The development is linked together by Friar's Walk, an open air pedestrian walkway between the two streets that spans the intermediate Garrard Street on a bridge. At its Station Hill end, the development is adjacent to Thames Tower and the Reading railway station.

As of 2025, the first phase (Friars Walk) has been completed, with the second phase nearing completion. The eventual development will comprise up to {{convert|625000|sqft}} of office space, 1,300 private and affordable homes, {{convert|95000|sqft}} of new lifestyle-led retail and leisure space, including potential for a 200-bed hotel and later living accommodation, and a central {{convert|2|acre|adj=on}} piazza.{{cite web| url=https://legacy-hotels.co.uk/hotels/no-1-reading| work=Legacy Hotels | title=No.1 Reading is the name for a new proposed development at 29-35 Station Road, Reading. | date=2018-12-06 | accessdate=2025-06-13}}

History

=Proposals=

A redevelopment of the land, then occupied by the disused Friars Walk shopping centre, bus station and former British Railways Western Tower offices, was initially proposed by Reading entrepreneur John Madejski, who bought the site in 2005.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In 2012, the Station Hill project passed to a joint venture between Benson Elliot and Stanhope. In February, they released a new £400m plan to be displayed to the public.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-17080614 | work=BBC News | title=Reading's Station Hill regeneration plans on show | date=18 February 2012}} After the exhibition at the Town Hall, the developers said that the plans had received a positive response.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

As of June 2018, Station Hill became a joint venture between Lincoln Property Company and MGT Investment Management (known as Lincoln MGT).{{cite web| url=https://www.mgtim.com/station-hill-reading/| work=MGT Investment Management | title=Station Hill, Reading - MGT Investment Management | accessdate=2019-07-18}} The BBC reported that the development was bought for close to £70 million from Sackville Developments.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-44443095| work=BBC | title=Station Hill: £500m Reading development gets new owners | date=2018-06-11 | accessdate=2019-07-18}}

=Construction=

The development was split into three phases, with construction for the first two phases underway as of 2022 and the third having received outline planning permission. Phase one and two were completed in 2024 and opened to the public,{{cite web| url=https://ukpropertyforums.com/practical-completion-at-one-station-hill-reading/| title=Practical completion at ONE Station Hill, Reading | date=2024-12-04 | accessdate=2025-06-13}} with the first three companies, PepsiCo, PWC{{cite web| url=https://rdg.today/first-three-tenants-for-readings-one-station-hill-revealed/| title=First three tenants for Reading’s ONE Station Hill revealed | date=2024-06-09 | accessdate=2025-06-13}} and Proactis Ltd opening offices in 2025.{{cite web| url=https://www.proactis.com/uk/resources/news/expansion-of-uk-presence/| title=Source-to-Pay specialist Proactis expands UK presence with new office in Reading | date=2025-05-07 | accessdate=2025-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250613110050/https://www.proactis.com/uk/resources/news/expansion-of-uk-presence/ |archive-date=2025-06-13 |url-status=dead}}

References

External links

{{Official website|www.stationhill.co.uk}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150411070725/http://capitalpropertiesltd.com/ Capital Properties (UK) Ltd - asset management, placemaking and events]

Category:Buildings and structures in Reading, Berkshire

Category:Proposed skyscrapers in England