Minster Quarter Urban Design Framework

In 2016 we were appointed by Reading Borough Council to consider a design framework for the redevelopment of the significant former civic offices site, plus adjacent retail and police/magistrates courts.
Initial aspirations of the client were for an uplift of 1,300 new homes in the area, a number of tall buildings in accordance with the adopted Tall Buildings Strategy (part-authored by team members from UPL), and improvements to the public realm.
Adjacent to the site sits the Grade 1 listed Minster of St. Mary, arguably Reading’s finest and most significant building. The UPL team worked to persuade the client at a political and policy level, to incorporate this building and its generous environs into the development framework, affording the reinterpretation of this structure as part of a comprehensive masterplan, along with a re-invented open space, surrounded by some the best surviving medieval frontages in the town.
Post adoption of the framework we have assisted the Council in selecting a development management partner to take the site forward and deliver new homes, community assets and town centre retail/mixed use.
