Lidl, Halfords and KFC Retail Park Changes Approved in Reading

Okay, listen to this local news. Halfords at the retail park will move to a smaller store. They got approval for the changes. Work is happening at the old Wrens Kitchen spot.

This means fewer parking spots during construction. About 33 spaces are gone, like two disabled ones. Halfords staff don’t know the exact move date yet.

But the new store work should finish this spring. Most parking spots will return after work. Sadly, two spots are gone for better pedestrian access. Wren Kitchens shut down back in 2018. They focus on their Reading Gateway store now.

Halfords’ move makes way for Lidl. Halfords’ old spot will join the old Carpet Right store. This creates a bigger space for Lidl. Carpet Right closed back in September 2023. Their lease expired, that’s why.

Lidl wants to sell alcohol daily, 7 AM to 11 PM. The council received no objections on this plan. This was after a public review back in August.

KFC got approval for drive-thru changes. They wanted two lanes for taking orders back in July 2023. However it looks like they haven’t installed the equipment. You still have to use one lane there. Threadneedle, the park’s owner, planned these changes. They made many requests to the council of Reading.