Demolition work to start on Reading's last gas tower
The famous tower is a familiar sight over the east Reading skyline
Last updated 6th Sep 2021
Works to dismantle Reading’s iconic gas holder are set to resume next week after six months of delays due to bird nesting concerns.
The dismantling of the town’s last remaining gas tower was delayed after concerns were raised by residents over the impact on birds in the area.
Gas Holder No.4, on Alexander Turner Close, in east Reading, is being removed as part of a 130-flat development, with works now set to start on Monday, September 13.
Works to dismantle the gas tower had been due to start in March this year but were stopped after peregrine falcons were spotted on the gas holder.
The demolition was previously delayed in October 2020, when the council refused to approve the demolition due to conerns about the safety of the works.
The council witheld approval to dismantle the tower until January 2021 before works were delayed again in March due to bird nesting concerns.
How the tower will be brought down
Before the tower is dismantled, there will be works to remove the build-up of water and debris inside the tank and Southern Gas Networks (SGN) says there will be no noise or disruption during this process.
Deconstruction work will then take place to bring down the gas holder and its associated structures, which involve heavy machinery and will be a dismantling rather than demolition.
There will be noise and vibration, which SGN says will be kept to a minimum, while the works are projected to finish in March 2022.
SGN says its priority will be to complete the work safely with minimum impact to the local community.
What is replacing the gas tower?
Plans from developer Danescroft to turn the landmark site into 130 flats were approved by Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee in November 2019.
The development is a three-building complex, with a nine-storey building, a five-storey building, and a two-storey building.
70 people objected to the plans at the site by Kennet Mouth, raising concerns such as the loss of the landmark, the “overbearing” and “prison-like” design of the flats, plus the impact on wildlife in the area.
The development will include 15 affordable housing flats.
Exhibition to give gas tower ‘fond and final farewell’
An exhibition on the gas tower will begin this week at The Turbine House, Riverside Museum at Blake’s Lock, Gas Works Road.
Hosted by Reading Museum, the exhibition – called ‘The Last Gasometer and Reading’s Changing Skyline’ – will be on from September 10 to September 26 as part of England’s annual heritage festival, Heritage Open Days.
Curated by Jenny Halstead and Linda Saul, it is described as “an exciting exhibition celebrating the ever-changing skyline of Reading and bidding a fond and final farewell to the last of our so familiar gasometers” and there will be 25 artists displaying work.