Broad Street Mall

Broad Street Mall is a large indoor shopping and services centre in central Reading, England. It occupies a prominent position at the western end of Broad Street, Reading's principal pedestrian shopping street, and is close to The Hexagon theatre and Reading Borough Council offices. The complex also includes a multi-storey car park with direct access to the first floor, making it a combined retail, service and parking destination rather than a conventional high-street shop. The centre was developed following plans made by Reading Borough Council in 1956. More than a decade was required to identify an appropriate site and complete the necessary acquisitions. When it opened in 1971, it was called the Butts Centre, a name derived from the neighbouring St Mary's Butts area. It was subsequently renamed Broad Street Mall, linking the property more directly to the major pedestrian retail street beside it. Broad Street Mall's occupier mix has included national chains, independent businesses, food outlets, convenience services and public-facing facilities. Retail and food tenants identified in reference material include TK Maxx, Iceland, Poundland, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, Greggs, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, Card Factory, F. Hinds, The Works, Timpson, Savers, Metro Bank and Reading Buses, alongside businesses such as Boswells Cafe, Bride to Be, Reading Biscuit Factory cinema and local service providers. The tenant roster can change over time, so these occupiers should be understood as documented examples rather than a guaranteed current directory. The centre also provides facilities beyond shopping, including public toilets, a Post Office and an NHS walk-in health centre. In 2019, the health centre was expanded in response to demand, with reported NHS funding of £505,000. In September 2020, Co-Space Reading opened within the mall, adding flexible office accommodation for local businesses through furnished suites of different sizes. The property underwent a significant ownership and repositioning period in the early 2000s. Doughty Hanson & Co acquired the centre in June 2001 and sold it in March 2004. During that ownership period, a strategy to update and refurbish the centre was implemented. The reference material reports a 50% increase in footfall and a 38% increase in net operating profit during the period, although the available material does not identify the precise measurement periods or provide a source URL for those figures. Broad Street Mall has also been the subject of plans to add substantial residential accommodation. Proposals submitted in 2018 envisaged 530 flats. Revised plans submitted in 2019 by Inception Reading proposed 493 flats in three buildings, including one building above the shopping centre and two additional towers of five and 22 storeys. The proposals were described as subject to planning permission and therefore do not establish that the residential scheme was completed. Broad Street Mall remains a locally focused mixed-use destination whose role combines retail, food, community services, parking, health provision and workspace.

Broad Street Mall originated in a long-running civic and redevelopment effort by Reading Borough Council. Initial plans were made in 1956, but the project did not proceed immediately because more than ten years were needed to secure a suitable site and complete property acquisitions. The resulting shopping centre opened in 1971 under the name Butts Centre, referring to the nearby St Mary's Butts area. The centre was conceived as a substantial indoor retail destination in the centre of Reading. Its location at the western end of Broad Street placed it beside one of the town's principal pedestrian shopping areas and close to civic and cultural facilities, including Reading Borough Council offices and The Hexagon theatre. A multi-storey car park was incorporated into the complex, with direct access to the first floor of the mall. The Butts Centre later adopted the name Broad Street Mall. The new name connected the property with Broad Street and its established role in Reading's central shopping district. Over time, the centre developed a broad occupier profile covering fashion, discount retail, food, groceries, health and beauty, banking, personal services, leisure and convenience uses. Documented occupiers have included both national chains and local businesses, reflecting the centre's role as an everyday shopping and services venue. A notable ownership transition occurred in June 2001, when Doughty Hanson & Co acquired the centre. During its ownership, the company implemented a strategy intended to update the property and bring it to contemporary retail standards. Reference material reports that footfall increased by 50% and net operating profits by 38% during this period. Doughty Hanson sold the centre in March 2004. The available reference does not identify the purchaser or provide sufficiently detailed financial documentation to establish the absolute value of the transaction or the precise periods used for the performance comparisons. Broad Street Mall's role expanded beyond conventional retail. Its facilities have included public toilets, a Post Office and an NHS walk-in health centre. In 2019, the health centre was expanded because of its busy service, with £505,000 of NHS funding reported in the reference material. The addition of health provision reinforced the centre's community-service function within central Reading. The property was also considered for a substantial mixed-use residential redevelopment. Plans submitted in November 2018 proposed 530 flats. In 2019, Inception Reading submitted revised proposals for 493 flats in three buildings. The scheme included one building positioned above the shopping centre and two other towers, one five storeys high and the other 22 storeys high. These were planning proposals rather than evidence of completed construction, and the available material does not establish their final approval or delivery. In September 2020, Co-Space Reading opened at Broad Street Mall. The flexible-workspace operation provided furnished office suites for local businesses, ranging from small rooms for several people to larger spaces for more than 50 occupants. This addition illustrated an effort to broaden the site's uses at a time when shopping centres were increasingly incorporating offices, services and community functions. Today, Broad Street Mall is best understood as a locally significant, mixed-use shopping centre rather than a conventional standalone consumer brand. Its identity is tied to its Reading location, its connection with Broad Street, and its combination of retail tenants, food and leisure businesses, parking, health services, postal and public facilities, and flexible workspace. The centre's occupier list and redevelopment status may change, so current tenant and planning information should be checked against the official property website and local authority records.

• 2020

  Flexible workspace opens

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Co-Space Reading opened within the mall, adding serviced and flexible office accommodation.

• 2019

  Revised residential proposal

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Inception Reading submitted revised plans for 493 flats in three buildings, including a building above the mall.

• 2019

  NHS facility expansion

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The NHS walk-in health centre at the site was expanded in response to demand.

• 2018

  First major residential proposal

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A planning application proposed 530 residential flats within the Broad Street Mall development.

• 2004

  Sale by Doughty Hanson

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Doughty Hanson & Co sold the shopping centre after its ownership and refurbishment period.

• 2001

  Doughty Hanson acquisition

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Doughty Hanson & Co acquired the centre and began a programme focused on refurbishment and modernisation.

• 1971

  Butts Centre opens

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The indoor shopping centre opened in central Reading under the original name Butts Centre.

• 1956

  Initial development plans

  [1]Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Reading Borough Council made plans for a new shopping centre, beginning a development process that would take more than a decade to reach construction.

A centrally located, practical and mixed-use urban shopping centre serving Reading residents, commuters and visitors through a combination of national retailers, food outlets, everyday services, health provision, leisure and workspace.

• Retail property · 1971

  Indoor shopping centre

  The core offering is a central indoor retail environment with a varied occupier mix. Documented categories include fashion, discount and general merchandise, groceries, health and beauty, food, banking and personal services. The tenant roster has included TK Maxx, Poundland, Iceland, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, Card Factory, The Works, Greggs and other national and local operators.

• Transport and parking · 1971

  Multi-storey car park

  The shopping centre includes a large multi-storey car park designed to support access to the central Reading retail area. The car park connects directly with the first floor of the mall, integrating vehicle access with the indoor centre.

• Healthcare service

  NHS walk-in health centre

  An NHS walk-in health centre operates at the site as part of the mall's wider community and service offer. The facility was expanded in 2019 after reported high demand.

• Cinema and leisure

  Reading Biscuit Factory

  Reading Biscuit Factory is a cinema and leisure occupier identified among the centre's documented businesses, adding entertainment use alongside the retail and food offer.

• Flexible workspace · 2020

  Co-Space Reading

  Co-Space Reading provides furnished flexible office accommodation within Broad Street Mall. The documented offer included suites for small teams and larger workspaces for more than 50 people, broadening the centre's use beyond shopping.

• 2020

  Addition of flexible workspaceOther

  Background

  The centre broadened its use beyond retail and leisure by accommodating business services.

  Action taken

  Co-Space Reading opened with furnished office suites in several sizes.

  Aftermath

  The opening added a flexible-workspace function for local businesses, but later occupancy and operating results are not available in the supplied sources.

  Source

• 2019

  Revised mixed-use redevelopment proposalStrategy

  Background

  A revised scheme followed the earlier residential proposal for the site.

  Action taken

  Inception Reading resubmitted plans for 493 flats in three buildings, including one building above the mall and two additional towers.

  Aftermath

  The plans remained subject to planning permission, and the supplied references do not confirm the final planning or construction outcome.

  Source

• 2019

  Expansion of NHS walk-in centreOther

  Background

  The health facility was described as busy and in need of additional capacity.

  Action taken

  The NHS walk-in centre at Broad Street Mall was expanded with reported NHS funding of £505,000.

  Aftermath

  The expansion strengthened the site's role as a community and public-service location, although detailed operational outcomes are not provided.

  Source

• 2018

  Residential redevelopment proposalStrategy

  Background

  The owners and development partners considered adding residential accommodation to the shopping-centre site.

  Action taken

  Plans were submitted to Reading Borough Council for 530 flats as part of the Broad Street Mall development.

  Aftermath

  The available material does not establish that the proposal was approved or built.

  Source

• 2001

  Refurbishment and modernisation strategyStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring the centre, Doughty Hanson & Co sought to update the property and improve its retail standards.

  Action taken

  The owner implemented a business strategy involving refurbishment and modernisation of the shopping centre.

  Aftermath

  Reference material reports a 50% increase in footfall and a 38% increase in net operating profit during the relevant ownership period. The exact measurement periods and supporting financial source are not available in the supplied material.

  Source

1. 1Broad Street Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Broad Street Mall official websitebroadstreetmall.com