South Reading

Reading south stretches from the centre of the town along the A329 to the town’s boundary at the ‘Three Tuns Crossroads’ to the east and west as far as the new link road from the centre of town to the M4. This area has seen a vast amount of development in recent years. Business parks such as Green Park, new housing estates incorporating not only privately occupied property but also housing association flats and houses, and also retail parks have been located south of the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal.



Probably the most well known landmarks in south Reading are the Royal Berkshire Hospital, University of Reading, the Reading Technical College – later re-named Berkshire College of Technology, Art and Design – now part of the Thames Valley University, together with the Brewery and Reading Football Club Madejski Stadium.

When The Royal Berkshire Hospital was opened in 1839 the south of Reading covered a much smaller area than it does today, but with the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1840 and the growth of Huntley and Palmers, Sutton Seeds and Simmonds Brewery, there was a need for houses for the workers in these factories in the south of Reading. The 20th century brought greater expansion to this part of Reading with the Royal Berkshire Hospital increasing its number of beds. However, again now in the 21st century the hospital has undergone major building programme of modernisation.

The University of Reading, which is one of the foremost research-led universities in the UK, was founded and gained a Royal Charter in 1926 and celebrated its 80th year on the 17th March 2006. The University is internationally recognised for the excellence of its teaching on a broad range Arts, Humanities and Sciences programmes. The campus at Whiteknights is also the home of the Museum of English Rural Life.

Formerly known as Reading Technical College, located on the A329 close to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, it was opened by the late Queen Mother in October 1955 but having been re-named Berkshire College of Technology Art and Design it is now part of the Thames Valley University.

PROPERTY TO BUY OR RENT

The south of Reading has lovely character houses of the Victorian and Georgian period which, because of their proximity to the University of Reading and Royal Berkshire Hospital, are in demand by both the buy-to-let investor and property investor. Another reason to buy or rent in the south of Reading is education and two schools namely, the Kendrick Girls School and Reading School consistently maintain their position in the top ten schools league table of national exam results. There are also private schools with not only impressive exam results but a reputation for providing the very best all round education for its pupils, such as St Joseph’s Convent School, Leighton Park School, and The Abbey School which has as one of its past pupils none other than the celebrated author Jane Austen.

To buy a property in South Reading house prices range from a new build one bedroom studio apartment on the market for around £100,000 to £180,000 up to a six bedroom property costing around £1 million. Typically a four or five bedroom detached residence will be offered to the market for between £350,000 and £650,000 whilst the three bedroom detached property can command an asking price of between £295,000 and £595,000. All properties, of course, depend on the all important location. A new or recently converted two bedroom flat/apartment will cost in the region of £200,000 to £240,000 and it is also possible to purchase a three bedroom semi-detached property for the same price.

To rent a property in South Reading whether a student or in employment, there is a wide choice both in respect of rent and type of property from family residences to house sharing. A five or six bedroom property can be found for around £1,500 pcm with a four bedroom property on offer to rent for approximately £1,300 pcm However, the vast majority of properties to rent have two and three bedrooms both established and new builds ranging from around £700 pcm up to £1,495 pcm. With the demand for accommodation from University students and hospital employees there are a large number of one bedroom flats available to rent for around £350 pcm to £750 pcm. House share is another option and this kind of accommodation can be rented for around £65 pw.

RETAIL AND BUSINESS

Retail - Reading South benefits from having the most number of retail parks in the borough of Reading. The shopper can find everything they need in a relatively small area as the retail parks are situated within a three mile radius.

Rose Kiln Lane Trading Estate has Morrisons Supermarket which says that it offers the shopper “best quality at the lowest possible prices”, with other well known stores namely, Laura Ashley, PC World, Next, JJB Sports, Currys electrical store, Maplin and many other smaller business offering their services such as window, bathroom, flooring suppliers, and also brakes and exhausts for the motorists.

The Reading Gate Retail Park built close to the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading Town Football Club and London Irish Rugby Club, has the giant B&Q Warehouse, Carpetright store, Allied Carpets, Comet for electrical goods and the recently opened Bhs Store.

Reading Link Retail Park has the well known Matalan Store and for the home there is Magnet Kitchens, Bensons Beds, Harveys and Peter Green.

However, if in search of a new car the main dealerships Toyota, Ford, Citreon, Audi, VW, Renault and Jaguar are all to be found here. Most importantly these retail parks can offer the shopper the convenience of free parking immediately outside the store.

The small individual and sometimes family owned stores are to be found located in the roads close to Reading University and the Royal Berkshire Hospital together with areas such as the Basingstoke Road and the Whitley area of south Reading.

Business – The Thames Valley along the M4 corridor is known as the UK’s Silicon Valley and the south of Reading is a very thriving centre of commerce and light industry. Business Parks have been established such as Worton Grange Business Park where Hewlett Packard are based and the Reading International Business Park where MCI/Verizon have their offices. Cisco Systems, Symantec Software, Logica are amongst the companies whose business operations are located in Green Park which is one of the recent business parks in the area. With easy access to the motorway network it is no surprise to find a number of multinational companies have decided to base their operations here in the south of Reading.

Another example, based on the Basingstoke Road is Gillette, a Boston based company founded in the USA in 1901 famous for its shaving products, which was recently merged with Procter and Gamble to create the world's largest stable of consumer brands.

A brewery has been in Reading since the 19th century. Simmonds Brewery, although originally based in the centre of Reading, moved to a new site on the south side of the town in the 1970’s and is still there today. However, Simmonds closed in the 1980’s and the brewery is now owned by Scottish Courage Brewing Ltd and is a familiar site on the Reading landscape.

LEISURE AND SPORT

Reading has had a football club since the late 1800’s and was established at Elm Road ground in 1896 where they continued to play and work their way up the football leagues until they moved to the new Madejski Stadium in 1998. In this new environment Reading Football Club, known as the Royals, have gone from strength to strength and given pleasure to so many who enjoy the sport of football.

Reading Speedway is another leisure activity with a huge following and is based here at the Smallmead Stadium. Reading Racers as they are known, have been racing in Reading, although not on this site, since 1968. In the 1970’s Reading Racers moved to their present site at Smallmead although a move from the Tilehurst site to a preferred site at Palmer Park was ruled out by the council.

South Reading Leisure Centre, located in Northumberland Avenue, closed in order that a £1 million refurbishment could take place through partnership with the new John Madejski Academy, who will then manage the centre. It will be re-named the Academy Sport Leisure Centre when it re-opens, which is anticipated in 2007. The Academy will provide a full range of activities, programmes and facilities for all the community.

In addition another sports and leisure facility, funded by the John Madejski Academy, is also planned on the old Thamesbridge College site.

For those less energetic there is the luxury BJ’s Bingo which is situated in Gillette Way and offers not only a flutter on fruit machines and bingo but a licensed bar and diner.