A plan to convert an unused Reading industrial unit into a climbing centre is to be considered by the council’s planning committee this week.
The Climbing Hangar, an activities company which provides indoor climbing experiences, wants to open in the town, converting a unit in the Scours Lane Stadium Way Industrial Estate to do so.
Matt Brewer, agent from URBANSPACE planning, said: “The Climbing Hangar have been searching for a suitable property within Reading to operate their climbing and bouldering facility for some time.
“The company was set up in 2010, and provides a number of successful facilities across the UK, with climbing and bouldering of increasing popularity and reaching a greater audience, with its debut at the Olympics last year.
“This site provides an opportunity to accommodate the requirements for the use in an accessible location and within a building that meets the space, height and configuration requirements for a bouldering centre.”
The Climbing Hangar currently has seven locations, and Mr Brewer said the company’s plans would create jobs and “enhance the area within which it is located”
Work would involve completely reconfiguring the interior, complete with a reception and café area with 42 seats, an eight seat waiting area and three toilets -presumably for staff- on the ground floor.
There is 16 parking spaces for staff and guests, with one reserved for a disabled blue badge holder.
The unit was previously used by Plasman Laminate Products, which occupied it in June 2005, but closed in 2017.
The plan has been recommended for approval, and no objections have been received from council departments or neighbours. It will be discussed on Wednesday, September 7.
If approved, it would create 15 full-time staff and 15 part-time staff, and the centre would open from 6.30am to 10pm on weekdays, and 9am to 8pm on weekends.
The application can be seen by logging on to Reading Borough Council’s planning portal, searching for reference 220463.
