Modern trade counters replace fire damaged unit at Reading Business Park

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is celebrating the completion of four light industrial units totalling 15,178 sqft (GEA) on Stadium Trade & Business Park, Reading. Replacing premises destroyed by fire in 2020, SGP’s design has kept the original footprint but subdivided the space into four units, ranging from 2,500 – 3,500 sqft.

Explains Luke Abbott, Studio Director at SGP: “The original unit was damaged beyond economic repair so we worked with our client to deliver four smaller trade counter or light industrial units in the same footprint, with supporting access and parking up to Grade-A standard. These sizes of unit better meet the needs of the local market, diversify the range of unit sizes across the estate and address the general shortage of smaller, high-quality units in Reading. Our design is flexible so should a tenant need a larger space, the internal walls can be removed to combine the units.”

SGP’s design retains the original building’s form and proportions to tie into the existing terrace but uses modern materials to improve the aesthetic of the units and bring them up to current building standards, including improved energy efficiency. In addition to installing modern roller shutter doors in Anthracite to match other improvements on the site, wide profile and trapezoidal metal cladding was used on two of the elevations, which are very visible from main roads in the park. This adds a contemporary feeling to the approach and is more appealing for future tenants.

Continues Ming Cheung, Associate at SGP: “The site is located in an area with medium to high risk of flooding, so we designed in several protective measures, including raising the floor levels and installing flood barriers in the entrances. We used a lined permeable surfacing for the reconfigured car parking to the west side, to help provide a SuDS drainage solution for the development and ensure that there is no increase in surface water runoff from the site.”

The new units sit in an established industrial site which has good transport and pedestrian connections, including links with the M40 and M25 motorways.