An office building at a business park on the outskirts of Reading is set to be transformed to create nearly 100 apartments.
The Regus offices at Thames Valley Park currently provide hireable space for businesses.
The building is operated by Regus, a global provider of flexible workspaces with more than 300 offices nationwide.
Its website states: “This modern business centre places you in a desirable office park that’s home to the likes of prestigious companies in technology, energy and financial services.
“Thames Valley Park in Reading is conveniently near the M4 and has a free shuttle bus service to the town centre for easy transport links.
“The bright, contemporary workspaces offer you ergonomic furniture and high-speed WiFi plus on-site amenities including a cafe and video conferencing studio.”
Photos on the website show communal areas, conference rooms and workspaces.
But the use of the building is due to change in the coming years as the owning company of the business park has won permission to transform it into 94 flats.
Plans were submitted last year to both convert the existing building into 62 flats, and add two storeys to create 32 more flats.
These were submitted in separate applications to Wokingham Borough Council, the planning authority for Earley.
A report by a council planning officer concluded that the conversion of the existing building complied with national policies.
The project was submitted through prior approval, which allows the conversion of commercial buildings into housing through permitted development rights.
Prior approval applications can typically only be refused if future occupants would lack enough living space and access to daylight.
These requirements need to be demonstrated in documents submitted by the applicant.
The council’s report states: “The windows in the existing building would provide adequate natural light to all habitable rooms. It is acknowledged that some of the proposed dwellings would have just north-facing windows however, this is still deemed to be ‘adequate’.”
The conversion of the main building was approved in September 2024, allowing it to be transformed into 52 one-bed and 10 two-bed flats.
But the plan to add two storeys was refused due to concerns about how occupants would leave the building in a fire emergency.
A follow-up application, submitted this year, provided details of a fire evacuation strategy that was judged appropriate by the Health and Safety Executive.
This second plan was subsequently approved this month, allowing 28 one-bed and four two-bed flats to be added.
You can view the approved application to convert the offices into 62 flats by typing reference 241855 into Wokingham council’s planning portal.
Additionally, you can see the failed extension plan using reference 241853 , and the approved extension plan with reference 251814.
The advert for Regus Thames Valley Park remains live.
The company retains offices at Forbury Square in Reading town centre and Green Park in Whitley.
