Businesses have secured offices at a building that has been tipped to become hundreds of flats near Reading town centre.
Reading Bridge House is located just south of Reading Bridge, occupying a prominent position near the River Thames, the train station and Vastern Road.
Standing at 10 storeys, it is one of the tallest buildings in the town.
Features of the offices include concierge reception, fully accessible floors, shower facilities, a cafe and secure cycle and car parking.
The commercial property estate agent Vail Williams recently announced that it has sold lettings for three offices within the building.
These are made up of a 10,000 sq ft office to a major private healthcare provider, a 5,694 sq ft office to a global recruitment specialist, and 1,070 sq ft of office space to a service management specialist.
The news comes amid speculation that Reading Bridge House could become a place for flats, according to Reading Borough Council’s Local Plan Partial-Update process.
According to a draft of suggested sites from November 2023, the building was earmarked to be converted into 300 to 400 apartments.
However, that amount has been revised down in the latest iteration of the plan.
Plan policy CR14w states that Reading Bridge House could become a place for between 150 and 230 homes if it is redeveloped or converted for residential use.
Any redevelopment of the building has been put into the ‘long’ term category for delivery between 2033 and 2041.
The latest iteration of the Local Plan, the Partial-Update, was approved by councillors in November last year, and is currently being revised ready for submission to the government this month.
Lettings of offices at Reading Bridge House were announced by Vail Williams following the completion of £3 million worth of leasing deals in the last five weeks.
Guy Parkes, Vail Williams Partner based in Reading, said: “The whole team has been exceptionally busy in getting numerous deals over the line.
“We feel that this not only demonstrates that confidence is returning to the office market across the region, but that there are a great many businesses out there seeking the best accommodation as the flight to quality continues with hybrid working arrangements settling down into a clear rhythm.
“Landlords prepared to invest and speculate in delivering super prime and Grade A stock may well prosper and see rental growth drive forward whilst there is strong demand and lack of new office stock coming to market at this time.”
Vail Williams also secured deals for offices at Apex Plaza and Davidson House.
Offices at Reading Bridge House are also marketed by Campbell Gordon and Lambert Smith Hampton.
