Reading Police station move delayed again
It's the third time the relocation date has been put back
The move of the police headquarters in Reading from the town centre to a new location has been delayed yet again.
Thames Valley Police has had a project to move out of its existing Reading headquarters in Castle Street due to mounting costs for over a decade stretching back to 2012.
A freedom of information request (FOI) revealed that the headquarters cost the force £182,100 for utilities such as water, gas and electricity, amounting to a monthly bill of £15,175, with costs increasing to £22,500 in January 2022.
But a move to the Atlantic House office building in Imperial Way, Whitley -which was initially expected to be completed this month- has not happened as promised.
The police were meant to be moving into Atlantic House in December 2024, according to a force spokesperson in September 2023.
However, the move has not occurred, meaning that it has been delayed on three occasions.
The relocation project has been delayed due to instability with construction companies appointed to prepare Atlantic House for occupation.
The initial plan was to move in March 2022, but the original refitting contractors Midas Construction went into administration in January of that year.
Thames Valley Police then appointed Willmott Dixon as the replacement contractor, with hopes for the relocation to be undertaken in the latter half of 2023.
However, a police spokesperson explained that more refitting work was needed.
While work resumed last year, the hope to relocate this month has not happened, with an aim for the force to begin using the building in the summer of next year.
Phased
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said:
“Work recommenced at the site in December 2023 and is expected to be completed around February 2025 and as such staff are yet to move into the building.
“The transition into Atlantic House will be phased and will look to be occupied by staff in summer 2025.”
Cost
The project to relocate to Atlantic House itself has proven expensive, with an FOI revealing that the force spent £8.25 million to occupy Atlantic House and £2.999 million refurbishing it.
The headquarters in Castle Street has been earmarked for demolition so development company S2 Estates can build 260 apartments to replace it.
The site was sold to S2 subject to planning permission. No application has appeared on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal yet.
Information on the S2 website states that an application is being prepared to deliver 20,000 sq ft of retail and commercial space along with 260 residential flats on the site.
The development company is responsible for transforming the Drews Ironmongers building in Caversham Road into 29 apartments and retail space, and is finalising its project to build more than 300 apartments in Bracknell.