Two new retail units may be created on Theale High Street as part of a redevelopment of a disused office building.
Developer T A Fisher plans to convert the former home of the Horticultural Trades Association to include 17 apartments with two retail units on the ground floor frontage which could be used as A1 (shops), A2 (financial/professional services) or A3 (café/restaurants). They could also be amalgamated into one larger unit.
Three of the apartments would be created above the retail units, overlooking the High Street while the other 14 are in a courtyard to the rear within the existing car park.
The office buildings, known previously as Horticulture House & Partners House, have been empty for over a year and T A Fisher, whose head office is next door, has now applied to West Berkshire Council to carry out the redevelopment. It will have a total 18 parking spaces.
T A Fisher development director, Steve Davies said: “We believe these plans make a really positive contribution to the area.
“The offices were rather obsolete and virtually unlettable. Therefore the building created a dead frontage to the High Street so by redeveloping the front building to include retail units with residential above and to the rear, this proposal not only brings vitality to a part the High Street where there were previously no shops, but also provides housing in this very popular village.
“As our offices are next door we know what a great community there is in Theale and we think the chance to own an apartment here will prove really popular.
“T A Fisher is known for the quality of its developments and this gives us a great opportunity to bring that reputation to our own neighbourhood.”