Exciting plan to bring climbing centre to Reading

The Climbing Hangar, an activities company which provides indoor climbing experiences, is set to come to Reading.

But before it can open, it has to completely transform a unit in the Stadium Way Industrial Estate from its old use by installing climbing and bouldering walls for prospective guests.

The Climbing Hangar would be located at  Unit 8 Stadium Way Industrial Estate in Tilehurst.

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Matt Brewer, agent from URBANSPACE planning, said: “The Climbing Hangar have been searching for a suitable property within Reading to operate their climbing and bouldering facility for some time.

“The company was set up in 2010 and provides a number of successful

facilities across the UK, with climbing and bouldering of increasing popularity and reaching a greater audience, with its debut at the Olympics last year.

“This site provides an opportunity to accommodate the requirements

for the use in an accessible location and within a building that meets the space, height and configuration requirements for a bouldering centre.”

The Climbing Hangar currently has seven locations in England and Wales, with two in Liverpool, and one each in London, Plymouth, Exeter, Sheffield and Swansea.

Mr Brewer added: “The proposal will provide a use which generates employment and will also enhance the area within which it is located as well as providing additional and varied employment opportunities, with the proposal reusing a vacant unit to provide a complementary leisure use which will improve opportunities for fitness and overall activity within the area.”

Unit 8 of the Stadium Way Industrial Estate in Reading, which The Climbing Hangar hopes to occupy. Credit: Google Maps

If approved, there are opportunities for 15 full time staff and 15 part time staff.

It would be open from 6.30am to 10pm on weekdays, and 9am to 8pm on weekends.

Work would involve completely reconfiguring the interior, complete with a reception and café area with 42 seats, an eight seat waiting area and three toilets -presumably for staff- on the ground floor.

The ground floor plan for The Climbing Hangar in Reading. Credit: Architectural Emporium

Upstairs there would be toilets for guests, a staff room and a office for managers.

There is 16 parking spaces for staff and guests, with one reserved for a disabled blue badge holder.

The unit was previously used by Plasman Laminate Products, which occupied it in June 2005, but has been closed since 2017.

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The plan has been recommended for approval by council officer Connie Davis, and no objections have been received from council departments or neighbours.

You can view the application by typing reference 220463 into the council’s planning portal.

It is due to be considered by Reading Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, September 7.