A facility run by John Lewis in Reading that was used for customers to collect items is set to be completely demolished and replaced with flats soon.
The company used to own a customer collection centre where people could come and collect orders, from large items such as kitchen appliances to new phones, clothing and the other products it sells.
However, the facility in Mill Lane and Crossland Road was deemed surplus to requirement and closed in 2022.
The John Lewis Partnership has plans to enter the property market as a build-to-rent housing provider.
In Reading, this involves demolishing the customer collections depot and replacing it with an 11-storey building containing 215 apartments.
These are made up of 111 one-bed, 92 two-bed and 12 three-bed flats.
Of those, 10 one-bed and four two-bed properties would be accessible.
John Lewis claims 49 per cent are ‘family-sized’ and 10 per cent will be provided at affordable rent levels.
A planning statement by Savills states that the benefits of the project include the provision of ‘thoughtfully designed, high quality, community-integrated new rental homes’ fitted with John Lewis furniture.
Additionally, future occupants would benefit from flexible work-from-home spaces, a gym or fitness studio and communal lounge and dining areas;
Planning documents also state that a certain amount of the apartments will be reserved for key workers such as healthcare staff and emergency service personnel.
A spokesperson for John Lewis Partnership has clarified that a decision on Reading at the Mill Lane site isn’t expected until much later in the year.
The project is a major application, and is therefore likely to be decided by the council’s planning applications committee.
You can view the application by typing reference PL/24/1155 into the council’s planning portal.
The company recently announced that it will be closing its Delivery Hub in Arrowhead Road, Theale on July 19.
The 75 employees, known as partners, could be redeployed into new roles.
A spokesperson for John Lewis, speaking to the BBC, said: “Our Theale delivery hub was opened decades ago, and is no longer suitable for the high volume of deliveries that we manage, which unfortunately means we’ve decided to close the site.
“Our focus is now on supporting our partners, including helping them apply for other roles.”
The closure of the delivery hub was announced by the John Lewis Partnership on Monday, March 24.
