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Reading FC eyes mixed-use development around the Madejski Stadium
A convention centre, leisure facilities and 600 new homes will be part of a mixed-use development being put forward for the site surrounding Reading Football Club’s Madejski Stadium.
RFC Prop Co Ltd, a part-owned subsidiary of Reading FC, has submitted a planning application to Reading Borough Council for the development, named Royal Elm Park.
The proposed development will include 18,000sq m (193,750sq ft) of open space – 8,000sq m (86,111sq ft) of which will become a new public square – 2,000sq m (21,527sq ft) of retail, leisure and restaurant facilities and a hotel. RFC predicts the project will lead to the creation of 1,000 new jobs.
A 10,000sq m (107,639sq ft) park will be built to border the one, two and three bedroom homes to “establish a green ribbon” on the complex. The convention centre, known as The International, will have the capacity to accommodate 6,000 delegates and will include an ice rink for leisure and competitive sport.
Reading FC chief executive Nigel Howe said the development would “put the town on the map and enable us to compete on the world stage”.
“It will also benefit the football club and will be important for Reading’s future growth, attracting national and international investment and offering tangible benefits for local people with new homes, jobs and a much improved match-day experience,” he added.