New civic centre opens with improved access to council services

Reading borough council will welcome residents and visitors into a redesigned Civic Centre on Bridge Street from Monday 26 January.

The refurbished building provides a modern entrance, improved customer facilities and easier access to key council services.

A modern welcome and easier access

Visitors will enter through new revolving doors into a bright, double-height atrium.

From here, residents can access services including housing, adult and children’s social care, the Register Office and public meetings. Reading’s new Central Library will also open in the building later this year.

The reception includes a digital check-in service and modern, accessible facilities. Devices and staff support are available for residents who need help using online services.

Services available in the civic centre

The building remains home to Reading’s Registration Service. Residents can:

• register a birth or death
• give notice to marry or form a civil partnership
• attend small ceremonies

The council chamber and committee rooms are also open to residents attending public meetings.

Central library and cultural investment

The redesigned reception completes the first phase of wider town centre improvements.

A new, purpose-built Central Library is under construction inside the Civic Centre and will move from Abbey Square later this year. It will provide modern space for reading, study and community use.

The project has been supported by government funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Alongside the library, work is also underway on the new studio theatre next to the Hexagon.

Council leader comments

Reading Borough Council leader, Councillor Liz Terry, said:

"The new reception will benefit residents who want to come into the Civic Centre to talk to us about something, attend a meeting or use the Register Office.

There is technology available to carry out tasks, and staff to help, if necessary.

We are optimising the space available on-site to provide improved facilities and services for our residents and staff.

This entrance is in the same place as it was just over 12 months ago; it just looks a little bit different and is extremely impressive.

I would like to thank residents for their patience in having to use different entrances for different services over the past year.

I hope getting back to normal and being able to access all our services through the one main entrance will make it easier for everyone who has to come to the Civic Centre.”

What happens next

The redesigned reception and the new Central Library are being delivered by construction partner Morgan Sindall.

The Central Library is due to open later this year. The studio theatre next to the Hexagon is under construction and is expected to open in 2027.

Find out more about how we are revitalising the Hexagon, Central Library and Civic Customer Service.