Plan to rebuild university halls

The university wants the public to comment on the proposed development (marked in blue) Enlarge Image

Plans to demolish two halls of residence at the University of Reading and replace them with new accommodation are going on display.

The largely-uninhabited Whiteknights Hall will be razed and rebuilt, while Childs Hall will only be demolished when its replacement is complete.

Both will create about 920 rooms and will be ready by 2010.

A second phase of building work will bring the total number of rooms at the site to 1,850 by 2012.

The new blocks will include self-catering flats and town house-style accommodation.

There will also be a "social hub" with a catering facility, the university said.

Tony Downes, deputy vice chancellor, said: "We do not underestimate the impact the residential facilities have upon new students choosing their preferred university."

The university wants students, future students and local businesses and organisations to comment on the plans, with the deadline for responses on 24 July.

Final proposals for phase one of the scheme will be submitted to Wokingham and Reading borough councils in the autumn.