A new fashion store is gearing up to open in Reading in just a few months time.
Progress is being made on transforming the former Carpetright at Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley into a Next clothing store.
Plans that involve the advertising and the fit-out for the new store were approved by Reading Borough Council in July.
The changes involve installing branding, establishing a mezzanine floor and making external modifications.
Approving the project, Julie Williams, the council’s planning manager, wrote: “Officers have concluded that planning permission can be granted for the additional floorspace at this location for retail purposes.”
Next is now gearing up to open in November this year, according to hoardings around the unit.
It will be competing with TK Maxx as the only other clothing store in the retail park, which is home to Tapi Carpets, B&Q, Oak Furnitureland, Currys PC World and Costa Coffee.
The Itsu will also be turned back into a Pizza Hut this month.
TK Maxx opened the out-of-town store in June 2013, occupying the former Comet unit, which closed down in 2012.
Next has had a chequered history of operating in Reading, with its most successful store being located in The Oracle Shopping Centre.
The company briefly occupied the former Debenhams at The Oracle for its Next Beauty and Home concept from December 2020 to August 2023.
It also closed out-of-town stores at the Brunel Retail Park in Whitley in 2020 and the Savacentre in Calcot in March 2022.
