Concerns have been raised about a planned logistics hub that could replace a massive office complex at the outskirts of Reading.
The Shire Hall office building in Shinfield Park has been vacant since last summer after previous occupants the Wood multinational consultancy moved into new offices in Green Park.
It was purpose-built as the Berkshire County Council offices, which occupied it from 1981 to 1989, with Foster Wheeler taking it over from 2000 to 2017.
It occupies a prominent position along the B327 Lower Earley Way, near the Shinfield Arms roundabout.
Earlier this year, the site owners Wrenbridge and Fiera Real Estate won permission to demolish it.
They have applied to replace the complex with five industrial buildings in an application to Wokingham Borough Council.
However, the plan has been hit with neighbour concerns over vehicles coming and going 24/7.
Thomas Rembert said: “It would send hundreds of HGV trips across the Shinfield Arms Roundabout and through the surrounding street network, creating a large increase in traffic.
“This risks longer queues, bus delays, and greater danger for people walking and cycling.
“Air quality along these routes is a particular worry, and households fronting these streets would face significant noise and vibration.”
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, the leader of the opposition on the council, has also objected, arguing neighbours elsewhere in Shinfield Park should not be disturbed by future activity.
Cllr Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) said: “Due to the proximity of houses in Shinfield Park, in particular, to the warehouse to the right of the site, there is likely to be considerable noise and nuisance.
“If this does get approved, reversing horns should be switched off.
“Also, the access to the M4 via Whitley Wood is already a busy road, the junction with Whitley Wood Lane is inappropriate for HGVs.”
She also pointed out that the GEM building that replaced the Autotrader at Danehill has been unoccupied two years after it was completed in 2023.
Detailed responses to neighbours’ concerns can be found at the Q&A section of Wrenbridge’s Shinfield Park website.
It is admitted that the site will operate 24/7, but it is expected to generate less traffic than when the complex was occupied by Wood.
Therefore, no adjustments to the junction with Whitley Wood Lane or the M4 junction 11 are deemed to be required.
The website states: “The nature of the proposed units is such that it will attract a wide range of occupiers across all employment uses apart from office use, many of whom will operate longer hours than a typical office use or 24/7 meaning that there will be a number of different shift patterns across the day, none of which start or finish during peak periods.
“As a result of this, the number of trips on the surrounding highway will be lower during peak periods compared to the previous or potential future office use of the site.
“On this basis, there is no requirement to make improvements to any surrounding junctions.”
In reflection of lower traffic demand, parking spaces will be reduced from 1,000 to around 250.
You can view the application by typing reference 250415 into Wokingham council’s planning portal.
