Demolition of former council HQ receives support

The demolition of a former council headquarters has received support from councillors, but concerns remain over traffic safety.

The Shire Hall office complex at Shinfield Park served as the Berkshire County Council headquarters from 1981 until 1998, when Berkshire was divided into six unitary authorities.

Developer Wrenbridge has applied to replace it with five warehouse-style business and industrial buildings.

Reading Borough Council councillors have requested an investigation into safety at the Whitley Wood Lane junction.

But no objections were raised by councillors at a meeting on 2 April.

The brutalist building off the Shinfield Arms roundabout is in Wokingham Borough Council's jurisdiction, but it was discussed by a Reading Borough Council planning applications committee.

Councillor Jo Lovelock said she remembered "many a happy hour" at the the building, but expressed disappointment over the plans.

"The replacement isn't going to be a thing of beauty," she said.

"Shire Hall itself wasn't that bad a looking building, but it's a shame it's not being replaced with something a little bit more elegant."

There were concerns about traffic safety because lorry traffic would be intensified as a result of the project.

Planning officer Richard Eatough recommended Wokingham Borough Council investigate crash data and improvements to the junction of Whitley Wood Lane and the B3270.

The consultation ended on 3 April and a decision will be made by Wokingham Borough Council.

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