Reading Borough Council has granted unanimous planning permission for a series of rooftop safety improvements at The Oracle, the town centre shopping complex owned by Hammerson. The approved works are intended to update access and fall-protection arrangements for plant and equipment on the centre’s roof while, officials said, preserving the character of neighbouring historic buildings.
What has been approved
The planning application, discussed by the council’s planning applications committee on 22 July, covers a cluster of modest but safety-critical alterations concentrated on the Holy Brook building north of the River Kennet. Permission was granted to:
- install new safety railings at roof level;
- fit a fixed access ladder to the top of the building from Broad Street;
- decommission an existing safety wire arrangement around the structure formerly occupied by the Lemoni restaurant.
Because the works involve external changes to a building close to several heritage assets, they required planning consent rather than being treated as minor maintenance.
"The works are required to ensure compliance with current health and safety standards, and to enable the safe maintenance of rooftop plant and equipment that supports the operation of the shopping centre,"
the council’s planning officer Richard Eatough told members. He added that, in his view, due to their limited scale and rooftop location the measures would have a negligible visual impact and would not be harmful to nearby historic buildings.
Council response and how to view the application
Members of the planning committee raised no objections in the meeting and no councillors chose to comment; the application was approved unanimously. The decision and related documents can be viewed on Reading Borough Council’s planning portal under reference PL/26/0573.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planning committee meeting | 22 July |
| Application reference | PL/26/0573 |
| Owner | Hammerson |
Local context and implications
The Oracle is one of Reading’s primary retail and leisure hubs, straddling both banks of the River Kennet close to the town centre. While the consented works are technical in nature, they reflect a broader issue facing multi-level shopping centres: the need to reconcile modern health and safety standards with sensitive historic environments and high-footfall public spaces.
For shoppers and commuters, the visible changes are likely to be limited — the council officer described the impact as negligible — but the work will improve safe access for engineers and maintenance crews who service rooftop plant that supports the centre’s lighting, ventilation and other operational systems. Ensuring that equipment can be maintained safely reduces the risk of unplanned outages that can affect tenants and visitors.
The decision also arrives at a time of minor churn and fresh openings within The Oracle. A free dinosaur trail for families has been running in the centre, while food and retail units continue to refresh: Snowflake Gelato opened a kiosk on the upper level on 31 July, and dessert shop Haute Dolci is due to open on 22 August in the unit previously occupied by Mission Burrito, which closed after 16 years in February 2025. Such activity underlines the centre’s role as a destination for both everyday shopping and leisure.
What this means for Reading residents
Practically, residents should expect maintenance work to be organised to minimise disruption; the application documentation indicates the interventions are confined to roof-level areas rather than retail floors. For local heritage groups and conservation-minded residents the unanimous approval — and the officer’s assessment that the works would be visually insignificant — may offer reassurance that necessary safety upgrades can be delivered without harm to Reading’s streetscape.
Those who want to inspect the planning file or follow any conditions attached to the consent can do so using the council’s online planning portal under reference PL/26/0573.
