Office Today, Dream Home Tomorrow—Just Add Approval

A former office building in central Reading is set to be transformed into residential accommodation after Reading Borough Council approved plans to convert the property into 29 apartments. The development involves Regents Gate, located on Crown Street at the junction with Newark Street. The building was previously occupied by Spire Healthcare as office space but will now be repurposed to help increase the town's housing stock through the creation of new homes. Developer Regents Gate Reading said the scheme will provide 29 flats while making use of the site's existing infrastructure, including a 31-space undercroft parking facility. According to the developer, the current vehicle and footman access arrangements are already suitable, meaning no changes to the building's access points will be required as part of the conversion. By reusing an existing commercial building rather than constructing a new one, the project reflects a growing trend of adapting underused office space to meet housing demand. Such conversions can reduce construction waste, shorten development timelines, and make efficient use of existing urban infrastructure. The approval comes as many local authorities continue to encourage the redevelopment of emoty or underused office buildings, particularly in town centres where demand for commercial office space has changed in recent years. Construction timelines for the conversion have not yet been announced, but once completed, the development will add 29 new homes to Reading's residential market while preserving the building's existing access and parking facilities.