Planning in Reading, reflections on Successes and Failures over 50 years

This event is the first Heritage Open Days event to be held in the Oracle Management Suite.

The site was developed between 1996 -1999 by Hammersons in partnership with Reading Borough Council, using the former Courage Brewery & Reading Transport Bus Depot. The shopping malls opened in phases from Sept 1999 to May 2000. It is now the leading regional shopping centre in the Thames Valley with a wide range of shopping and dining brands. It is about to undergo changes with the completion in 2025 of the Hollywood Bowl and in a few years residential accommodation will replacing Debenhams and the Vue Cinema site. On your way in you will see a model of the shopping centre.The location of the talk is very appropriate as it is one of the schemes in which Tony was heavily engaged throughout as a councillor, working to ensure it was an appropriate addition to Reading’s retail sites.Tony will however talk more widely ranging from working successfully with national Government and the railway industry to deliver new stations in Reading and Green Park, to frustrations and failures to deliver essential road and public transport schemes with adjoining councils. He will highlight the successes and failures across the years, and consider what has led to both. He will consider the constraints of various shades of governments and their impact on the planning process.The talk will be emphasised by some illustrations.After the talk Tony will be delighted to answer questions