Successful BID to revitalise the Hexagon and Central Library

19th January 2023

Reading Council has been awarded £19.1 million to revitalise Reading’s cultural offer by transforming the much-loved Hexagon Theatre and building a modern new Central Library.

The Council is one of a number of local authorities to be awarded the money as part of the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ funding pot, announced yesterday (Jan 18).

Reading Borough Council’s ambition is to do everything it can to ensure that every single resident - whatever their circumstances or background - can share in the town’s success. As part of that continuing drive, the funding award will now help breathe new life into its cultural and learning offer for Reading residents.

Nigel Horton-Baker, Chief Executive of REDA, said “This is really exciting news for the town centre contributing to the repurposing and renewal of Reading Town Centre after recent difficult times.  5 years ago REDA with Reading University and Barton Wilmore, supported by Reading BC, developed a Vision for Reading as a smart and sustainable City  by 2050, a city of culture and diversity and the Council’s plans and the funding for a new community arts centre and new library will go a long way to fulfilling that vision and be a stimulus for further regeneration of the Minster Quarter and  future redevelopment of the Broad Street Mall. 

"While primarily a resource for residents, the new library, community and arts facility alongside the Hexagon will be a great facility for employees and staff of our BID businesses helping with their health and well-being during and after work just one of the benefits of spending time in the office and retail workplace."

The Council’s bid is made up of:

An £8 million investment to rebuild Central Library at the Council’s Civic Offices in Bridge Street:
The existing Central Library on the King’s Road is well-used but is located in a dated building which is set over a series of floors, making accessibility difficult without significant investment. A brand new custom-built Central Library, incorporated onto the current Civic Offices site, will create a modern and open space, offering a much-improved, accessible environment for everyone. The ambition is to create a flexible space for the whole community that embraces not only the traditional offer of book loans, but looks to the future with our digital and learning offer.

A £12 million investment to revitalise Reading’s much-loved and popular Hexagon Theatre, creating an attractive, flexible and exciting new space for performances and community use:
The 1970s-built Hexagon has a number of limitations for future improvements due to its design and age. The proposal is to extend to the right-hand side of the existing building with an entrance directly off Queens Walk offering much-improved accessibility and new multi-function community space, called HexBox, that can accommodate a wider variety of performances and uses. This project will form the first phase of a longer-term regeneration of the Hexagon and the wider Minster Quarter.