The demolition of the huge office complex that used to be the offices of Berkshire County Council is progressing.
The Shire Hall office complex at Shinfield Park was built in the Brutalist style in the 1970s to serve as the offices of the county council.
Photos show part of the building demolished.
Shire Hall was occupied by the county council from 1981 until its abolition in 1998.
Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) attended the official opening ceremony in April 1982.
She was joined by Prince Philip and 5,000 local schoolchildren who lined the pavement outside the building.
Following the abolition of the county council, Shire Hall was acquired by Swiss global engineering conglomerate Foster Wheeler in March 2000.
The building was then taken over by engineering and consulting business Wood in October 2017, which occupied it until it moved to new offices at Green Park in August last year.
The site has been sealed off since then, with approval for the demolition being granted by Wokingham Borough Council in February.
The owners Wrenbridge and Fiera Real Estate want to replace it with five industrial buildings.
A post on the council’s Facebook page states: “The buildings in Shinfield are currently being demolished, with the site is subject to a planning application to become an industrial and employment hub, bringing the space back into use and creating local jobs.
“Demolition is due to be completed later this year.”
A memorial bench to county council worker Chris Whitton was removed from the site prior to demolition works taking place.
Mr Whitton died aged 26 of an illness.
Jessica Gavaghan, the director of Wrenbridge Sport, said that she is happy for the bench to be reinstalled on the site once construction work is completed.
The plan for the five new industrial buildings is still under consideration, with neighbours raising concerns about an increase in traffic queues.
Thomas Rembert said: “It would send hundreds of HGV trips across the Shinfield Arms Roundabout and through the surrounding street network, creating a large increase in traffic.
“This risks longer queues, bus delays, and greater danger for people walking and cycling.”
Detailed responses to concerns can be found at the Q&A section Shinfield Park development website.
The developers have argued that the new industrial units will attract a wide range of potential occupiers who will operate in shifts, rather than usual office working hours.
They have therefore concluded that traffic will be less busy during the morning and evening rush hours.
You can view the application by typing reference 250415 into Wokingham council’s planning portal.
