New public area opens up in front of Reading station

A new public in front of Reading station has been unveiled creating a ‘front door’ to Reading and linking the mainline station with the town centre.

It's part of an £850 million redevelopment of Station Hill.

Covering around two acres, the landscape and public realm of Station Hill run from Friar Street in the south – across a site which previously contained Friars Walk shopping centre, a car park, bus depot and office buildings dating from the 1970s – to the main entrance of Reading station in the north. The area incorporates a new pedestrian bridge link over Garrard Street and offers seating areas where members of the public can meet and relax.

The public realm gives visitors a new route to the town on arrival from the station, with a pocket park providing an attractive solution to the four-metre level change between the station underpass and Station Hill. The connection from the station through to Friar Street and the town centre beyond is step free, ensuring all-inclusive access for users.

Gateway

Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Reading’s standing as a major economic player - both in the region and nationally - compels it to have a gateway to the town which is befitting of that reputation. I’m pleased to say that has now become a reality with the opening of this hugely impressive public space between Reading Station and Station Hill, which is now effectively the town’s new front door. The creation of an attractive green space and accompanying public square, complete with seating, sculptures and artwork, will likely quickly become a destination in its own right, and the level access from the Station towards both Friar Street and the Town Centre will be of huge benefit.

“It’s fair to say the wider Station Hill project has been some years in the making and I’m certain residents will have wondered what the final completed project would look like. I hope they will agree it’s now a hugely impressive public space which further cements Reading’s reputation as a great place to live, work and visit.”

Public art

Cannon Ivers, Director, LDA Design, said: “Station Hill creates a striking, contemporary gateway and celebrates the rich history of Reading. From the arrival at the station and across a new pedestrian bridge linking to the high street, the landscape and public realm welcomes people from all walks of life to Station Hill. Nature is in abundance with biodiverse planting and trees, while seating areas will create spaces for people to dwell and admire the public art and enjoy the playful water feature. Inspired by the ‘Rivers of Reading’, the public realm provides space for life to unfold for the growing community.”

Art

The specially-commissioned series of sculptures and murals, which have been delivered by predominantly local artists, collectively form an ‘art trail’ through the Station Hill estate and include:

• The Friars Walk mural: ‘Rivers, Ruins & Regency’ depicting notable figures including King Henry I, who commissioned the construction of Reading Abbey and peace campaigner and politician Phoebe Cusden. It also highlights local icons including Huntley & Palmers biscuits, the World War II memorial cemetery and the Hand of St James

• The Station Hill mural: ‘Royals, Residents & a Rock Festival’ featuring celebrities like Kate Winslet, Ricky Gervais, Kate Middleton and Marianne Faithfull, alongside local figures such as businesswoman Tutu Melaku and Neil Papworth, sender of the first-ever SMS message

• ‘Seed’ sculpture, referencing Sutton’s Seeds and 19th Century Reading, merging botany, history and image microscopy. It sits on a plinth honouring Reading’s brickmaking heritage and its surface is embellished with nine bronze reliefs of magnified seed textures, chosen through a public engagement programme

• ‘Pivotal’, forming a monumental kinetic artwork outside ONE Station Hill, inspired by flags and symbolising a bright and creative era for Reading. It is comprised of more than 70 brightly coloured fins, each with a surface that moves in the wind, creating a dynamic and ever-changing display during the day and at night

In addition to the new public realm, the ONE Station Hill commercial development and a fast-growing selection of predominantly local retailers (including Siren Craft Brew), Station Hill also includes the 598-home Ebb&Fow residential development across two buildings which was competed last year and which already provides a range of market and affordable rental homes – including studios, 1-bed, 2-bed, 2-bed duplexes and 3-bed apartments for more than 1,650 residents.