Mixed-use project includes more than 600 homes

Barton Willmore has been given the green light by the local council for a mixed-use scheme in Reading that is being developed by the Berkshire town’s promotion-chasing football club.

Called Royal Elm Park, the £500 million scheme will be built at the southern end of the town in the shadow of the Championship side’s Madejski stadium and will include 630 homes and a 8,000sq m public square – known as Stadium Square – as a well as a convention centre, hotel, 2,000sq m of retail and an ice rink.

It is being developed by RFC Prop Co Ltd, a partly-owned subsidiary of the football club.

Subject to completing the final planning requirements, construction is due to start in early 2018 with final completion expected in 2023.

The 6,000 capacity convention centre, known as the International, is will be open for business by 2020.