INTRODUCTION
Map of Reading, illustrated by the Barton Willmore Graphic Designers
Cities can be vibrant hubs of enterprise and innovation, bringing together business, education and administration to generate economic growth and culture. Cities also present a huge impact upon our sustainability and can offer a significant opportunity for improvement. To be truly successful however, a city needs vision and ambition. A vision is a shared expectation about a plausible and desirable future.
Since 2013, Barton Willmore, Reading UK CIC and the University of Reading have been working in partnership with businesses from the private, public and third sector to help build a vision for ReadingUK 2050. Over the past 12 months work on the ReadingUK 2050 Vision has continued, with the team driving a diverse range of interactive sessions across Reading’s business and development community as well as beginning to engage with Reading’s wider population.
In March 2016, the ReadingUK 2050 team will be holding a two-day public engagement event, as part of Reading’s Year of Culture’s March focus on the future of Reading. The twoday interactive exhibition will be taking place in the centre of Reading, on the 18-19 March, which will offer Reading’s shoppers and commuters an opportunity to see the ideas generated so far, brought to life. Have a look at the story so far...
S K N A H T WITH E S O H T L L TO A . . . R A F O S D E V L O INV Neha
Abayawardana
Barton Willmore
Donald
Chambers
Greater Reading Environmental Network
Natalie
Ganpatsingh
Bob
Allies
Allies & Morrison
Nick
Chancellor
Meeting Place Communications
Jan
Gavin
Prof. Nigel
Arnell
University of Reading
Vicky
Charlesson
Blandy & Blandy
Andrew
Gibbons
ARUP
Martin
Baggs
Thames Water
Matt
Chillingworth
Hermes
Adam
Gibbs
WSP Group
Mark
Baker
Barton Willmore
Paul
Ciniglio
First Wessex Housing Association
Martijn
Gilbert
Reading Buses
Mark
Baker
Barton Willmore
Louize
Clark
Connect TVT
Prof. Roberta
Gilchrist
University of Reading
Richard
Baker
Ernst & Young
Aaron
Clarke
Barton Willmore
Stan
Gilmour
Andrew
Barron
Taylor Wimpey
Chris
Cobbald
Wessex Economics
Paul
Gittings
Stephen
Barter
Kim
Cohen
Barton Willmore
Oliver
Goodyear
Michael Aubrey Partnership
Chris
Barwick
SSE Plc
Chris
Collings
Barclays
Ian
Gough
Green education/Ecotricity
Matthew
Battle
UK Property Forums
Brian
Condon
FMW Consulting
Christopher
Grahame
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Steven
Beauchamp
Capital Properties
Rupert
Cook
Architecture PLB
Ben
Greatbatch
Ridge & Partners
Craig
Becconsall
Peter Brett Associates LLP
James
Cook
BroadwayMalyan
Stuart
Green
Reading University
Steven
Bee
Academy of Urbanism
Anthony
Cowling
Greater Reading Environmental Network
Carol
Griffin
Olswang
Steve
Belam
The Oracle
Ben
Cross
James
Gross
Barton Willmore
Alison
Bell
Reading Borough Council
Caroline
Crutcher
Olswang
Kristen
Guida
Climate UK
David
Bell
University of Reading
Caroline
Crutcher
Olswang Solicitors
Sarah
Hacker
Reading Borough Council
Whitney
Bevan
University of Reading
Bradley
Davidson
GCS Recruitment
Zoe
Hanim
Reading Borough Council
Chris
Blencowe
Hilson Moran Partnership
Richard
Davies
Emma
Harding
Environment Agency
David
Bloxham
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
Annemarie
De Boom
Studioreal
Tim
Harding
Haslams LLP
Dan
Bradbury
Bellway Homes (Thames Gateway)
Kate
Dean
Dean Consulting
Rob
Harris
Elementa Consulting Ltd
Katie
Bradfield
Oculus
Inderpal
Dhanjal
Paul
Harrison
Berkshire NHS Estates
Alex
Brannen
Reading UK CIC
Andrew
Dickinson
Semperian PPP
Susan
Haslam
FMW Consultancy Ltd
Jannicke
Brar
Blandy & Blandy
Simon
Dimmick
Blandy & Blandy
Dave
Hasler
Oculus
Sammy
Brennan
Barton Willmore
Prof. Tim
Dixon
University of Reading
Andrew
Hawkins
Barclays Bank Plc
Lorraine
Briffitt
Ian
Dubber
Workspace Group
Joel
Hawkins
Bell Hammer
Tim
Brown
Margaret
Dunn
Global Heart radio
John
Haxworth
Barton Willmore
Karen
Brown
Rachel
Eden
Rhian
Hayes
Wokingham Borough Council
Alan
Bunce
UK Property Forums
Nick
Elford
Oracle
Preetam
Heeramun Singh National Grid
Ben
Burfoot
Reading Borough Council
Prof. Lorraine
Farrelly
University of Reading
Gordon
Hewitt
SSE Plc
Peter
Burgess
University of Reading
Jaimie
Ferguson
Turley
Nick
Hiles
Stanhope
Helen
Burnell
Boyes Turner
Daniel
Fernbank
University of Reading
Simon
Hill
Reading Borough Council
Stephen
Burt
University of Reading
Duncan
Findlay
i-Transport LLP
Richard
Hill
Thames Water
Eleanor
Burton
SEGRO
Thomas
Fitzpatrick
Upton McGougan
Nicky
Hodgson
Reading Festival Organisers
Ian
Campbell
Campbell Gordon
Tom
Fletcher
Lambert Smith Hampton
Nicklas
Holm
Dawnus Construction Ltd
Steve
Capel-Davies
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Jennifer
Forakis
Hoop Architects
Nigel
Horton-Baker
Reading UK CIC
Gordon
Carey
Landid
Rufus
Ford
SSE Plc
Graeme
Hoskin
Brendan
Carr
Reading Museum
Jane
Fowles
Novell Tullett
Nigel
Howe
Reading FC
Caroline
Carsey
Barton Willmore
Giorgio
Framalicco
Reading Borough Council
Philip
Hunter
Lambert Smith Hampton
Rory
Carson
Oxford Properties
Peter
Frankum
Savills
Aminal
Islam
Reading Borough Council
Kelly
Caulfield
Barton Willmore
Dave
Furby
Oculus
James
Jackson
WSP Group
Matthew
Chamberlain
ACG Architects
Barry
Gaffney
Barton Willmore
Adam
Jacobs
Jacobs the Jeweller
Balfour Beatty Construction
Nature Nurture
Roger
James
Boultbee Brooks
Peter
Newton
Barton Willmore
Angela
Shields
Pitmans
Chris
James
BroadwayMalyan
Victor
Nicholls
Bracknell Forest Council
Patrick
Smith
Dawnus Construction Ltd
Richard
Jobson
Design Engine
Maria
Noguer
Reading University
Andrea
Smith
Radian Housing Association
Steve
Jones
Kinnarps UK Ltd
Prof. Maria
Noguer
University of Reading
Edmund
Smith
University of Reading
Andrew
Jones
McKay Securities
Trevor
O'Hara
One City
Ben
Somner
BroadwayMalyan
Robert
Jones
Michael Aubrey Partnership
Jake
Osman
Reading Buses
Julian
Spence
Blandy & Blandy
Tony
Jones
Bill
Page
Legal & General Property
Rachel
Spencer
Reading Voluntary Action
Chloe
Jordan
Beard Construction
Tony
Page
Reading Borough Council
Tina
Spires
Barton Willmore
Steve
Kemp
OpenPlan
Prof. Kathy
Pain
University of Reading
Suzanne
Stallard
Jelly
Ben
Kite
EPR
Kathy
Pain
University of Reading
Nathan
Stevenson
Bellway
Katherine
Knight
Intelligent Health
Prof. Kathy
Pain
University of Reading
Duncan
Stuart
ABC
Steve
Lamb
Smart Agenda Ltd
Dominic
Papa
S333 (Almere Architects)
Paul
Swinney
Centre for Cities
Michele
Lavelle
4D Landscape Design Ltd
Danielle
Parker
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Tao
Tao
Sunfor Lighting
Will
Lawrie
Patrizia
Guy
Parkes
Rare
Ashley
Taylor
BroadwayMalyan
Sam
Leckenby
Barclays
Kate
Parry-Jones
Olswang Solicitors
Colin
Tedder
Bouygues UK
Simon
Lickley
Blandy & Blandy
Matthew
Peake
M&G Real Estate
Liz
Terry
Reading Borough Council
Adam
Lloyd
SEGRO
Robert
Pearson
Hicks Baker
Leigh
Thomas
Kier
Jo
Lovelock
Reading Borough Council
Nigel
Penn Simpkins
Article 10 Design
John
Thompson
Academy of Urbanism
Chris
Luff
M&S
Simon
Perkins
McKay Securities
Rob
Thompson
planit-ie
John
Luther
Reading Arts Council
Tony
Pettitt
Reading Buses
Eleanor
Thomson
Barclays
Neil
MacDonald
GetReading
Tom
Pierpoint
Great Western Railways
Grant
Thornton
Reading Borough Council
Alan
Magness
Reading Borough Council
Robert
Poole
Muse Developments
Ally
Tow
Boyes Turner
Nick
Makemson
Scotts Brownrigg
Aaron
Pope
M&G Real Estate
Rowan
Turrall
Boyes Turner
Graciela
Malitsko
Reading Borough Council
Mark
Prescott
Reading Year of Culture
Stephen
Vigar
Reading Borough Council
Jonathan
Manning
Rare
Claire
Pulleyn
Haslams LLP
Nina
Virdi
Pollard Thomas Edwards
Jason
Margrave
Stanhope
Tracey
Rawling Church
Kyocera
Nina
Virdi
Pollard Thomas Edwards
Dave
Martin
First Group
Jeremy
Rawlings
University of Reading
Laura
Wainwright
Boyes Turner
Kathryn
Maskell
University of Reading
Jamie
Redman
Michael Aubrey Partnership Ltd
Robert
Wallace
Pitmans
David
Mather
JDP
Jamie
Renison
DTZ
Darryl
Ward
Clancy Consulting Ltd
Stacey
Meadwell
Estates Gazette
Alex
Reynolds
SEGRO
Ian
Wardle
Reading Borough Council
Graciela
Melitsko
Reading Borough Council
Cullan
Riley
Phil Jones Associates
Stacey
Waring
University of Reading
Jenni
Montgomery
Barton Willmore
Jim
Roberts
Fourth Street
Richard
Webb
Barton Willmore
Thomas
Moore
Trinity Mirror
Paul
Roseff
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Andy
Wells
i-Transport LLP
Andrew
Morgan
KPMG
Paul
Roseff
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Edward
Wheeler
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Juliette
Morgan
Tech City
Jon
Rowland
Jon Rowland Urban Design
Andrew
Willcock
Savills
Will
Morris
Haslams
Maria
Saltrese
Heather
Williams
University of Reading
John
Morton
Consult CPM
Flora
Samuel
University of Reading
Kirsti
Wilson
University of Reading
Graham
Mountford
Broad St Mall
Dominic
Scott
Barton Willmore
Scott
Witchalls
Peter Brett Associates LLP
Ben
Muirhead
Odyssey Markides
Neil
Seager
Haslams LLP
Steve
Woodford
Haslams LLP
David
Murray-Cox
Barton Willmore
Liam
Sharp
Barton Willmore
Jonathan
Woodroffe
S333 (Almere Architects)
Geeta
Nanda
Thames Valley Housing Association/Fizzy Living
Keith
Shearer
Adam Urbanism
Mark
Worringham
Reading Borough Council
Chris
Newman
Haslams
Brian
Shewan
Shewan Associates
Claire
Wright
Connect Reading
VISIONING A LOOK AT ACHIEVEMENTS & IMPROVEMENTS
RDG: EXCELLED AT...
RDG: UNDERPERFORMED AT...
RDG: HOW DO WE IMPROVE OVER 35 YEARS...
• Inward investment
• Congestion/traffic
• Strong leadership/unifying governance
• Public transport infrastructure/connectivity
• Cycle and footpath infrastructure
• Transport infrastructure – a smarter city, none car dependent
• Town centre redevelopment
• Connectivity beyond the town centre
• Invest in strategy and promotion
• The Oracle/Riverside
• No personality/identity
• Develop a stronger ID/sense of place that integrates culture and heritage
• Multicultural
• No sense of place
• Create multicultural and multigenerational spaces for inclusivity
• Reading Festival
• Civic pride
• Encourage entrepreneurial/innovation
• ICT capital of EU
• Start-up businesses/SMEs and independents
• Policies to promote greener buildings and energy solutions
• New and improved green spaces
• Diverse governance
• Reinvent IDR – less cars/more green space
• University of Reading
• Break out from LA boundaries
• Promoting and encourage cycling/walking – change attitudes
• Madejski Stadium
• Affordable housing
• Create collaborative world-class working spaces
• Town Hall
• Investment not reaching community level
• Cutting edge IT infrastructure
• Skills, training and maintaining tallent
• Maximising our heritage
• Shift socio/economic equality
• High end blue chip businesses
• IT infrastructure
• Pay explicit attention to value of waterways and green space
• Access to all waterfront and green spaces • A heart/civic space
EXPLORING GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Place & Environment
People & Lifestyle
Economy & Employment
• Bigger holistic hub from river to river
• Beyond boundaries
• ICT infrastructure
• Early adopters of technology
• Integrated connectivity travel – ICT apps based package
• Support for technology entrepreneurs
• Realise identity as high growth tech/entrepreneurial place
• Re-use the space used by a car
• Retail independents
• Non car dependent – step on step off service
• More liveable town centre
• Freer, more efficient movement of labour force
• Hub/connective spaces/not a drive through
• More walking/cycling
• Why go to town centre?
• A place with newly defined uses internationally
• Vibrant town centres
• Way we work/travel/do business
• Green buildings – push the trend
• Show room for retails in town centre – click and collect
• More attractive environment for diversity of commercial uses
• Renaissance of independents
• Trend in Real Estate
• A larger heart to our city • Influence lifestyles
EXPLORING RIVERS & PARKS
Place & Environment
People & Lifestyle
Economy & Employment
• Some loved, some unloved spaces - all loved by 2050
• Open spaces
• Shops in parks and spaces for people
• Sense of place
• Demand on road use
• Construct house boats
• Use the flood zones
• Build meeting places in communities
• Create flexible workspaces
• Make use of the river (like Oxford/ Cambridge do)
• Green gyms
• Outdoor learning hubs
• Thames for swimming
• Fobney Island/Green Park
• NW opportunity • Reading Great Water Park • Boat hire • Connection of rivers and town centre • Living on the water
EXPLORING FESTIVALS & CULTURE
Place & Environment
People & Lifestyle
Economy & Employment
• Culture woven into fabric of Reading
• Engage with existing diverse communities
• Attract more people to live in Reading
• City of festivals – not just ‘Reading Festival’
• Awareness/promotion of ‘cultural’ events
• Use smart technology to attract visitors to cultural events
• Reading as a cultural destination
• Creating civic pride
• Implement a heritage and culture strategy
• Improve attractiveness
• A place for people who live in Reading and visitors
• Develop heritage connection for pedestrians
• A larger heart to our city
• Look outside the centre
• Influence lifestyles
IDEAS ON HOW WE COULD ACHIEVE A SMART & SUSTAINABLE READING BY 2050.... CULTURAL LEADERSHIP – STAKEHOLDERS/ BUSINESSES
A TOWN MASTER PLAN INTEGRATING CONNECTIVITY AND OUR THEMES
PUBLIC ART
AN IDENTITY, AN ETHOS, OUR MISSION
SPACES FOR GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENTS
USE TRANSPORT MORE INNOVATIVELY – RIVERBOATS, TRAMS, CYCLE GREEN CHAMPIONS – PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
THIRD BRIDGE?
DEVELOP FESTIVAL CULTURE
WORLD-CLASS IT INFRASTRUCTURE
EXAMINE DESIRED FUTURES
EXPLORE OUTSIDE SPACES
A PLAYABLE CITY
CREATE A CATALYST FOR ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION
CREATE A CITY WIDE GREAT READING PARK
WORKING ACROSS BOUNDARIES THROUGH A SHARED GOVERNANCE
A MULTI-SCALE AND MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE
EXPLOITING NEW IDEAS TECHNOLOGIES
AWARENESS AND TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS TO USE OUR OPEN SPACES
DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR OPEN AND GREEN SPACES
OWNERSHIP O F FLOOD ZONES AND WOODS
. .. E R U T U F ’S G IN D A E R WHAT DO WE NEED AND WHY?
Population Projections 1981 - 2011
Areas of Multiple Deprivation
Commute r Flow Data Household Projections 1981 - 2011
2011
ZOOMING IN ON S N IO T A C O L D IE IF T N E ID
Station Hill
Abbey Quarter
Rivers and Parks
Floating Community
The Oxford Road
The IDR
N O I T A T S HILL
BEYON COMM D THE UTERS AN URBAN HIVE
“Topography works in our favour across the Station Hill area to offer us opportunities to mitigate the boundary that is the railway line. We can bridge over or under the line 3-4 times, to deliver greater connectivity through this quarter to the river and town.” Keith Shearer, Adam Urbanism
“Intensification and permeability of the urban grain, can permeate south right through the town to Friar Street, Broad Street and even The Oracle.” Dominic Papa, S333
STATION HILL BECOMES A NEW URBAN QUARTER FOR THE TOWN, PROVIDING A RECOGNISIBLE, STRONG SENSE OF ARRIVAL.
By removing exisiting barriers the space can reconnect north and south encouraging movement from town to river, and opening up to provide an urban hive of activity, not just a place for transition but a place for events and socialising.
ABBEY QUARTER
RE-INV ENTING HISTOR Y
“With the Abbey and Reading Prison is at the heart of this quarter, we can drive higher density of development alongside a network of green spaces and streets that overcomes the current dead ends.” Craig Beaconsall, PBA
“The current out of town retail area could be transformed into new residential accommodation, close to the station but also linked through to Kings Meadow to the north. New premises for the Further Education College at the heart of this development could provide an anchor of employment and activity throughout the day.” Rupert Cook, Architecture PLB
THE ABBEY QUARTER COULD BE A CULTURAL HUB FOR READING. CELEBRATING AND ENHANCING OUR HERITAGE WE CAN BREATH LIFE INTO THE ABBEY RUINS, READING PRISON, FORBURY GARDENS AND FAR BEYOND.
With looping public realm and green spaces we could extend the town’s activity east, and provide a bohemian quarter of studio spaces, live/work units and activity that encourage and promote uniqueness.
RIVERS AND PARKS
STITCH ED BAC K INTO T HE TOW N
“We can be bold. A 200-300m wide bridge crossing the railway would be bold, but it could provide stunning urban development for the town and overcome this strong obstacle. In 50 years’ time, this could be a far easier feat of engineering.” Richard Jobson, Design Engine
“We need a big central civic park, but we also need to craft a smaller network of interventions in our denser urban areas. Greening and connecting the river back into the city is an immediate project the industry could grapple with.” John Haxworth, Barton Willmore
“The act of crossing the river provides people with the views of the river itself, east and west - we don’t have enough of these in the town and they will help to make the river part of our urban fabric.” Jamie Ferguson, Turley
“Reading needs to use statement architecture more. In a cultural, civic hub we need to emulate Potsdammer Platz and the likes, by delivering density and strong statement buildings, to provide a real celebratory centre; make it a proper city and not just a large suburb with a big railway station.� Jon Rowland, Jon Rowland Urban Design
BY RECONNECTING OUR RIVERS AND PARKS, WE CAN STITCH THEM BACK INTO OUR TOWN PROMOTING THEIR USE AND CREATING DESIRABLE DESTINATIONS. Our waterways and their surroundings could provide a new wild Great Reading Park or intimate boat cafes and a oating theatre, while also providing greater riverside opportunities, to collectively create a necklace of escapism and enjoyment that travels right through the town.
G N I T A O L F Y T I N U M M CO
LET’S T H DIFFER INK ENTLY
“Reading’s water can work harder for the town. A floating community can provide homes for people that are already connected in to existing, sustainable river transport opportunities. A Thames river bus and improved cycle paths will further assist the connectivity north to south over the river and railway.” Peter Frankum, Savills
“There are some fantastic examples of how floating homes can work. Currently no one in Britain is grabbing this idea, yet it can provide inspirational architecture. We can capitalise on the creativity of residents by facilitating cost effective self-build, whilst also tackling affordability and climate change.” Jonathan Woodroffe, S333
THE LAKES OF READING OFFER NATURAL, UNDER-UTILISED ASSETS. A NEW FLOATING COMMUNITY COULD PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE HOMES AND A DIFFERENT LIVING EXPERIENCE FOR RESIDENTS.
Changing perceptions as to what housing should look like and how it functions, residents could enjoy a community that thrives on a natural habitat whilst oямАering great river, cycle, pedestrian routes straight into town and a low carbon footprint.
THE OXFORD ROAD
CELEB RA HOME TE OUR GR DIVER OWN SITY/ CULTU RE
“The Oxford Road’s strong multi-cultural vibe must be retained but can be significantly enhanced through minimal intervention. Traffic calming, enhanced public realm and intensification of activity and occupation at key points could radically transform the opportunities for residents and visitors, and build an even stronger, unique identity.” Matthew Chamberlain, ACG Architects
“Notional subdivision along this long road enables us to provide transition, different experiences and the sense of a journey. The east end relating to the town while the west end relates more to the suburbs and industry.” Barry Gaffney, Barton Willmore
ALREADY AN ICONIC, DIVERSE AREA FOR READING, WE COULD ENHANCE EXISTING NEIGHBOURHOODS, IMPROVING AND INTENSIFYING RESIDENTIAL AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT IN ‘LOWER’ AND ‘UPPER’ OXFORD ROAD, WHILST FOCUSING COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN A CENTRAL ‘HEART’.
Enhanced to support local businesses and entrepreneurialism ‘The Heart’ could encourage community ownership, be greener and pedestrian friendly, offer a space in which to host pop-up events that celebrate food, people and music etc. all coming together to create a diverse and unique space to explore and socialise.
THE IDR
FROM G RE TO GRE Y EN
“This is a radical opportunity for Reading to deliver ‘Room to Breathe’. Through modal shift and diverted through town traffic, we can reduce the reliance upon the IDR and use the space to create memorability for Reading. By greening the route, we can ‘un-define’ Reading’s limits, create new developable space and a new ‘living room’ of green space for a multitude of activity.” Steven Bee, Academy of Urbanism
RATHER THAN A GREY BARRIER CONSTRAINING OUR TOWN, THE IDR COULD BE A GREEN LUNG, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FLEXIBLE, SMART AND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES, SHARED BY CARS, TRAMS AND BICYCLES. With the barriers broken we could rebuild routes through and across town, reconnecting our town and suburbs through a ribbon of movement and greenery, with nodes for rest and nodes of intensiямБcation providing new areas for activity, retail, employment and even play!
WE WANT YOU TO STEP INTO READING 2O5O... WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
SHARE YOUR VIEWS...
• More opportunities for art and culture • A greater variety of housing
www.reading2O5O.co.uk
• Sustainable transport networks
www.facebook.com/reading2O5O
• Community owned spaces • More festivals and pop-up events • Better use of our rivers and green spaces • Innovative workplace environments e.g spaces for start-ups • Greater use of green technology • Better architecture
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