A plan that would see the former police headquarters in Reading town centre replaced with more than 200 apartments has been revealed.
Thames Valley Police vacated its Reading headquarters in Castle Street to move into Atlantic House in Whitley after more than three years of delays in November last year.
That has cleared the way for the development company S2, the purchaser of the Castle Street site, to reveal its early-stage plans to replace the 11-storey building with two apartment blocks.
The project has been named ‘Flint Street’, with the new buildings providing 205 flats, with 30 per cent of these being designated affordable.
The ground floor could provide space for 13 non-residential units, which may provide space for restaurants, cafes or co-working offices.
The architect JTP is running a consultation on the project before a planning application is submitted to Reading Borough Council.
A consultation document states: “Flint Street will provide a welcoming gateway into Reading town centre, celebrating the area’s heritage while supporting everyday movement and community life.
“Flint Street is envisioned as a high-quality urban environment that integrates historic character with contemporary principles of sustainability, creating an attractive and inclusive place to meet, pass through, and spend time, clearly marking the Minster Quarter from the South West, and into the heart of the town.
“The development will be a net-zero, residential-led mixed-use scheme.
“Redeveloping the former Thames Valley Police HQ site creates an exciting opportunity to improve pedestrian connections to the town centre, introduce more than 1810m2 of active non-residential uses such as shops and community spaces, and provide new public open spaces for everyone to enjoy.”
It has been suggested on Facebook that the building could be used as a night shelter for homeless people while its fate is being decided.
A joint post by Everything RG and The Way Ministry states: “After Thames Valley Police moved to their shiny new base in Whitley, this huge former station sits boarded up, waiting for its next chapter.
“Locals are already buzzing about turning it into a temporary homeless night shelter – and it’s a brilliant idea worth exploring!”
This was followed by a request for people to identify vacant buildings which could host a night shelter.
It comes amid escalating concern about people sleeping rough in Reading, following the deaths of Kepha Otundo and Genevieve Curwen this year.
A council report states 43 people were sleeping rough during a survey held in November 2025.
A consultation on the plan for 205 apartments is live, and closes on Monday, March 16.
You can take part using the Flint Street website and by emailing community@jtp.co.uk.
S2 Estates has secured planning permission to redevelop the former Drews the Ironmongers building in Caversham Road to provide 31 apartments and new commercial space.
It also won permission to replace the Bracknell Beeches offices with 349 homes in the nearby town, which was subsequently sold to Weston Homes for £150 million.
