M3 are acting as Project Manager for the John Lewis Partnership’s Build to Rent development in Reading — a £70 million investment transforming a former industrial site on Mill Lane into 170 high-quality new homes. The scheme will revitalise this brownfield location with 16% affordable housing, extensive landscaped gardens, and a 328% biodiversity net gain, significantly exceeding policy requirements.

The development will deliver 5,000 square feet of resident amenities, including co-working areas, wellness spaces, and a community hub offered at peppercorn rent to local groups. Designed with a strong focus on sustainability, the project adopts a fabric-first, low-carbon approach, incorporating air source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels to achieve exceptional environmental performance.

Following extensive engagement and a highly successful pre-application process, the scheme received unanimous approval from Reading Borough Council, representing a major step forward in delivering sustainable, community-focused regeneration in the heart of Reading.