Planning in Reading: From Sleepy Town to Neo City. Reflections on Successes and Failures over 50 years by Tony Page

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

Timings & Tours

Friday 19 September:

2pm (arrive from 1:40pm)

Location & directions

Oracle Management Suite, Pedestrian access from Gunn Street. Once in the Oracle building take the lift to the right, The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2AG

Directions:

By foot access the Oracle Shopping Centre from the Gunn Street entrance. Once in the shopping centre there is a lift on the right to the car parking. Take the lift to the 1st floor and the management suite is on your right. There will be a Reading Civic Society member by the lift to direct you. and also at the entrance to the Management Suite to open the glass doors to let you in and guide you to the meeting room. By car access via the Holy Brook Car park, accessed from Bridge St. Park on the 1st level and walk to the lift into the shopping centre. You will pass the Management Suite on your left. There will be a Reading Civic Society member inside to open the glass doors to let you in and guide you to the meeting room.

Contact on day:

Richard Bennett DL

Telephone number:

+447802763289

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Seating is very limited and you must book If you book and find you cannot attend please cancel your booking to enable us to manage a waiting list Arrive from 1:40pm.

Booking contact name:

Richard Bennett

Booking website:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1438280598989

Booking opens:

23 Jul 2025 01:00 AM

Booking closes:

18 Sep 2025 12:00 AM

Accessibility details

Parking is in the Holy Brook Car Park ( access from Bridge Street) There is designated parking on-site. Fees apply. Display your Blue Badge. Access to the Management suite is easiest from the 1st floor car park. Doors exiting the car park to get to the Management suite are automatic. On reaching the Management Suite there will be a Reading Civic Society member ready to open the doors and guide you to the meeting room.

Additional information

The room is restricted to 50 people. Access to the Management suite for pedestrians is via the entrance to the Oracle from Gunn Street.

Max no of people per tour:

50

Est. tour duration:

2 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

Check out our online channels

Back to results