The southern part of the 4.6-acre site will now deliver 643 build-to-rent homes across four residential blocks alongside 19,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Oliver Westray, Development Director of McLaren Living, said: “Our approved scheme will regenerate Broad Street Mall and deliver an enhanced and reinvigorated mixed-use neighbourhood, one which will deliver on the council’s plans for the area and align with its vision for the town.

“The approved scheme will allow McLaren Living and AEW to create a renewed and vibrant retail and residential destination, one that will be resilient and sustainable and support the local economy.

“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with AEW and Reading Borough Council post-consent to deliver our vision for the transformation of Broad Street Mall.”

Charles Royle, Portfolio Manager at AEW, added: “This is a significant milestone for the regeneration of Broad Street Mall, which will create much needed new homes and green spaces for the community in Reading. Our ambition, along with our partners McLaren Living, is to transform this area into a vibrant, new destination for the town, and the receipt of planning brings us one step closer to achieving that goal.”