Inception Holdings has submitted plans to deliver a mixed-use urban market at its Broad Street Mall shopping centre in Reading.
Constructed from 16 stacked shipping containers, the temporary building will provide space for a vibrant mix of retail, restaurant and bars, together with rooftop stage for live music performances. The proposals, which have been submitted to Reading Borough Council incorporate an innovative temporary marketplace which could remain in-situ for up to five years.
Situated at South Court, an undeveloped area to the south of Broad Street Mall, the market would boost Broad Street Mall’s appeal with an array of independent retailers and food operators. Small scale flexible units would accommodate a creative mix of tenants who might otherwise struggle to find appropriate space.
The use of repurposed shipping containers to create mixed use pop ups can help transform underused sites into dynamic visitor attractions. Broad Street Mall’s new urban market would be designed with a contemporary warehouse aesthetic, similar to examples seen at Krynkl in Sheffield and the Boxpark concept in Shoreditch.
The stacking of the units will create a courtyard fronting onto South Court and Dusseldorf Way / Hosier Street. At rooftop level, there is an opportunity to create further vitality with space for a small bar and a stage for events and live music.
The urban market plans fit into a comprehensive investment strategy by Broad Street Mall’s owner Inception Holdings. Since acquiring the shopping centre in 2015, Inception has spent more than £5m revitalising the existing mall and associated assets. The transformation is helping increase footfall, improve the centre’s prominence and reaffirm its position as a key town centre attraction.
Inception Holdings’ Tim Vaughan said: “South Court Urban Market will create a mixed use hub of new concepts, allowing them to test the market and draw in visitors with a much broader choice of places to shop, eat and drink. The proposal will greatly enrich the local area and further boost Broad Street Mall’s credentials as a retail and leisure destination.”
