Reading Borough Council have given the green light to Reading Football Clubs plans to develop a £500million development.

Royal Elm Park will deliver a world-class convention centre, hundreds of new homes, significant new public space, a mix of high-quality retail, leisure and hotel space, all of which will be supported by a substantial investment in public transport for both match and non-match day visitors.

The centrepiece of the 15.5 ha scheme will be a new landmark 28,000sq m convention centre, intended to provide a powerful attraction for future inward investment. Known as The International, the centre will play host to a wide range of events, concerts, conferences, leisure pursuits and community uses, and will become the largest dedicated conference venue in the south of England. With a capacity of 6,000, The International will enable Reading to compete on a world stage, enabling it to host larger events than ever before, and will serve as a powerful catalyst for growth in Reading and Berkshire more widely. It will also deliver a new ice rink, which will be made available for both leisure use and competitive sport.


Royal Elm Park will also deliver more than 600 new homes. A mix of one, two and three bedroom homes will provide much needed new housing with dedicated resident parking, extensive landscaping, helping to create a new community with Madejski Stadium at its heart.

The scheme also includes more than 18,000sq m of new public open space. A new public square of 8,000sq m will form a focal point for residents, football supporters and visitors, and will include over 2,000sq m of new retail, leisure and restaurant facilities.

Nigel Howe, Chief Executive of Reading FC, said: "This is a huge boost for Reading, and will deliver a step change in the town's ability to host international, large-scale conferences and events, which the business community here has long sought. But the scheme delivers more than that. It delivers a new and reinvigorated destination for businesses and the Reading community, and will significantly enhance the match-day experience for our supporters, the driving force behind the Club's success."

(CD)