Future 'look' of central Reading discussed
More space for pedestrians and more trees and bushes in the plans
A strategy that shapes what Reading town centre will look like in the future has been given the go-ahead.
Concept images show areas of the town centre reimagined to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists, and more tree and bush planting.
St Mary’s Butts and Market Place have been reimagined with the current red brick being replaced with beige paving, and a substantial amount of bushes and flowers being installed.
Meanwhile, the road in Friar Street would be substantially narrowed, providing more space for pedestrians, and Queens Road would have substantial tree and bush planting with more defined pedestrian and cycle crossings.
These images feature in Reading Borough Council’s town centre public realm strategy that was recently approved by councillors.
Concept images also show town centre road space being narrowed to provide more space for bus stops and pedestrians.
Named ‘pillars’ of the strategy are ‘inclusivity’, ‘sustainability’ and ‘liveability’.
Improvements to public spaces are funded by developer contributions from section 106 legal agreements that developers must pay to fund vital infrastructure.
The public realm strategy was discussed at a meeting of the council’s policy committee.
The strategy will undergo a public consultation that will take place later this year.