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Retail giant Tesco is planning to bring back 1,000 jobs to Whitley by building a new regional food distribution depot on the old Courage brewery site
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1,000 jobs for Whitley

By Linda Fort
June 28, 2011

Retail giant Tesco is planning to bring back 1,000 jobs to Whitley by building a new regional food distribution depot on the old Courage brewery site.

Tesco subsidiary Spen Hill Developments intends to put in a planning application to both Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils next month.

The company hopes the application will go before Reading planning committee in September.

Among the jobs to be created by the new depot if approved would be 100 management jobs as well as drivers, mechanics, warehouse workers and maintenance staff.

Building the depot would also create 150 construction jobs.

The plan is for an eco-friendly building constructed to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment (BREEAM) “excellent” rating and the company is also hoping to recruit staff from the Whitley area so that as many as possible can walk and cycle to work.

The company will also be working with the Shaw Trust in a bid to recruit as many people with disabilities as possible.

Tesco has already been discussing the project which spans the borough boundary – with Reading and Wokingham planning officers. Its next step is to stage of public exhibition in Whitley to inform the local community about the project.

The Berkshire Brewery at Worton Grange overlooking the M4 at junction 11 closed down in April 2010, the last of Reading's Three Bs – meaning beer, biscuits and bulbs – to leave town.

The site which employed 900 people in its heyday has been empty ever since.

The Tesco plan which also includes a vehicle maintenance unit is expected to generate fewer lorry movements than the brewery building.

Staff will work in three shifts starting at 6am, 2pm and 10pm to avoid traffic peak periods.

Tesco will be holding an exhibition at St Agnes Church Hall in Northumberland Avenue, Whitley, on Friday, July 1, from 4pm until 8pm and on Saturday, July 2, from 10am to 2pm. If the plan is approved, Tesco hopes the depot will be open by Christmas 2012.

Anyone interested in registering an early interest in working at the depot can do so at the exhibition.

Regional corporate affairs manager Maxine Crawford said: “We are looking forward to a good turn-out at the public exhibition. The proposals would create much needed employment which will be targeted towards local people.

“Anyone who would like to come along to comment on proposals or to register an interest for a job would be very welcome.Once we have taken on board these comments, we will be in a position to submit applications.”

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Wha Gwaan..., READING
03/07/2011 at 23:25

PC watch is there some truth in what I'm putting in this comment space???? You tell me your the one bringing the the racism hint not me. I'm telling how I see it you try and get a job at Tesco's when they build the place in Whitley and you will not get a look in.

cav007, Caversham
30/06/2011 at 22:06

If you were to look at other Tesco Distribution Depots such as Thurrock,Goole and Daventry to name but a few you would notice that the 'jobs' created are predominately aimed at Eastern European labour or Agency workers who can be hired or fired at a moments notice. There is no mention of the excisting distribution depots that will be shut down such as Weybridge (550 employees) or Welham Green (500 employees). Add the two together and how many jobs are they creating?

pippin 2011, surrey
30/06/2011 at 09:42

How many locals will be employed???? They might go all eastern european for the cheaper wages????? cav007, Caversham

What ever Tesco is it does treat its staff well and pay the rate for the job. Did I detect a tinge of racism in your comment. I hope not./

PCWatch, Reading
29/06/2011 at 11:37

In other news, possibly opening a shop just outside Reading and considering a new food distribution depot on the out skirts absolutely makes Reading a city. Nowtas, Reading West

No. What makes Reading a city is its allure for jobs, business, great communication networks and its pleasant environment. Shops like Apple are coming to the town and opening new stores. It is bucking the economic trend because people have jobs. Just these two new openings of the Tesco warehouse and IKEA will create getting on for 2,000 jobs. That means that anyone refusing a new job should be taken off the dole. No excuses now and that's just a continuing of the trend.Reading is the place to work, rest and play and it is not even on Mars!!!!

IKEA is just hardly a shop! I would get out more if I were you.

PCWatch, Reading
29/06/2011 at 11:31

I like to prove my points with lyrics from songs by The Levellers. It shows I can be taken seriously.

In other news, possibly opening a shop just outside Reading and considering a new food distribution depot on the out skirts absolutely makes Reading a city.

Nowtas, Reading West
29/06/2011 at 09:28

How many locals will be employed???? They might go all eastern european for the cheaper wages?????

cav007, Caversham
28/06/2011 at 20:01

this is not a "Whitley" story it just happens that an industrial site is nearby. This is a coup for the town of Reading which is attracting great business. IKEA, Tesco distribution....what next? Let's hope that Reading should soon become a city at last. Where else in this part of the south gets this kind of investment for people and jobs.

PCWatch, Reading
28/06/2011 at 18:40

YES, YES - And we can just pretend that Whitley-ites don't revel in their own notoriety when it suits them, just God help anyone else who mentions it eh?

Off the top of my head I can recall having to give a statement to the Police about the rioting and destruction to cars and street furniture during Euro 2004- the perpetrators of which made themselves slighty easier to indentify by gleefully singing; 'we are the whitley boys' as they were stamping their footprints into some poor sod's car.

Ted Farmer, Beyond apathy
28/06/2011 at 16:29

Ted Farmer, Beyond apathy
28/06/2011 at 16:14

Bushes Bernal has a point...

The people that seem to want to knock Whitley, do not seem to be that up to date with what is real.

@ Whit Lee

Don't you mean

The Harvester WAS the ex World Turned Upside Down. ?

I have not lived in Whitley for 20 years and only lived on the Basingstoke road for approx 9 months, But it has not been a Harvester for several years. Possibly 6-8+, somebody must know?

What is wrong with Harvesters? Are we all too posh to eat there? I went to the mansion house, Harvester, for a meal with my brother and his kids last week, free salad starter and a cheap meal that tasted good. Great value for money. Can be hit and miss but I can live with that at the price.

Myself, I would rather eat at the Forbury, but not a place to take fussy kids or my brother, who, possibly, should live in Whitley.

Lets hope the Tesco's plans get through ok, no reason for them not to and lets all be thankful that they choose Reading rather than the outskirts of Bracknell or some place else....

Wodger Wabbitt.com, Oxford Road
28/06/2011 at 15:43

Great news for the local Economy. There is no 'Downside' to this story.

TilehurstSouthbank, Tilehurst, Reading
28/06/2011 at 13:02

Only the morons of getreading would see the creation of 1000 jobs in south reading as an opportunity to attack whitley and the people who live there.

Go crawl back under your stones.

Bushes Bernal, Lets take out the trash!
28/06/2011 at 12:43

Good I hope the job centre go through all the people scrounging on benefits (but could work) and force them to apply for jobs here!

Just an opinion
28/06/2011 at 12:36

Thanks F Saltaire - that's really helpful for the debate - your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight. btw The World turned Upside Down is a really distinctive pub name and is probably connected to the Leveller's ditty; Here you may see what's very rare, The world turn'd upside down; A tree and castle in the air, A man walk on his crown.