Greater Reading’s industrial and logistics market defied wider economic uncertainty last year with investment volumes surging, take up rebounding sharply and a new rental benchmark recorded as major schemes progressed across the town and wider Thames Valley.
Haslams Surveyors’ latest Greater Reading Industrial Market report found take up jumping 89% year-on-year to 369,365 sq ft, the highest level since 2021 and in line with the five-year average.
Total supply rose 9% to 893,146 sq ft as tenants delayed decisions or rationalised portfolios in response to economic uncertainty, in part caused by the late Budget.
Despite these factors, the report concludes that greater Reading’s fundamentals of strategic location, infrastructure and limited stock continue to underpin investor and occupier confidence.
Neil Seager, Partner at Haslams Surveyors, said: “Greater Reading’s industrial market has proved remarkably resilient. While decision-making is more measured, the town’s strategic location, outstanding connectivity and constrained supply mean investors and occupiers continue to see it as one of the Thames Valley’s safest long term bets.”
He added: “Looking into 2026, the pipeline of best in class schemes and the depth of local demand leave Reading well placed to outperform many competing locations.”
Notable transactions in 2025 included Indurent’s purchases at Robert Cort/Elgar Road Industrial Estate, Access 12 in Theale and Nimrod Industrial Estate.
Mileway acquired 2 Acre Road (63,345 sq ft) in a sale and leaseback deal and a 28,835 sq ft unit at Headley Park 8 while M7 Real Estate bought 1 Acre Road (68,610 sq ft) and Knight Frank Investors purchased the Grahams unit at Craddock Road (52,280 sq ft).
Turning to development, Goya completed Hurricane Urban Hub, a new 10 unit urban logistics scheme in Woodley, while Graftongate / JP Morgan acquired Reading Logistics Park in April and speculatively started a four unit, 156,000 sq ft development by Junction 11.
Early interest at Reading Logistics Park includes a pre letting of 37,000 sq ft at a rent in excess of £20 per sq ft, establishing a new prime benchmark for Reading’s industrial rents following post pandemic growth.
The report notes that corporates are driving demand, with a clear “flight to quality” towards Grade A and well refurbished units and a relative softening in requirements for sub 15,000 sq ft space.
Key lettings last year were focused on refurbished space, including Unit 30 Worton Grange (55,066 sq ft) to BYD, Unit 8 Acre Road (32,072 sq ft) to Timeline TV and 53,735 sq ft at Winnersh Triangle to Ahead, a global IT and cloud solutions provider.
Haslams Surveyors believes that Reading’s industrial market will remain resilient through 2026 with planned schemes such as Wrenbridge’s 229,000 sq ft redevelopment of the former Shire Hall site and Panattoni’s two unit, 104,000 sq ft project at Theale highlighting the continued confidence in Reading as a prime logistics and industrial hub.
