Reading Borough Council to move from Civic Centre

Reading Borough Council is due to approve plans to demolish the Civic Centre

Reading Borough Council staff are due to begin their move to a new building later this month.

Just under 1,000 staff members based in the 1970s Civic Centre in Reading will move in phases, with the aim that the building will be empty by 15 December.

The council said the £25m move to Bridge Street was cheaper than the £100m work needed at the Civic Centre.

Proposals to demolish the Civic Centre are due to be discussed by the planning committee on Wednesday.

The application is recommended for approval.

The council has said the building is "at the end of its design life" and has asbestos, which makes it increasingly expensive to maintain.

Redevelopment plans for the site were announced in 2012.

Proposals will be drawn up for a mixed residential and retail development on the site, which includes Hosier Street.