ENJOY A LIFE LESS ORDINARY AT KENNET ISLAND THE WATERSIDE APARTMENTS Located a short distance from Reading town centre or a 26 minute train journey to Central London, Kennet Island by St James offers contemporary designed apartments and houses within beautifully landscaped grounds. Residents can enjoy peaceful walks near the Foudry Brook ecological corridor or down the tree-lined boulevards. At the centre of the development is the Piazza, which provides the Kennet Island community with a café, children’s day care nursery, local shop and gym. Alternatively, residents can take advantage of the facilities of the Hilton Hotel, which includes a swimming pool, steam room and sauna, all on the doorstep. Kennet Island combines luxury living within a thriving community close to Reading. CONTENTS 3 Introduction 18 Royal Berkshire Enjoy a life less ordinary So much to see and enjoy 4 Kennet Island 20 By Road or Rail Perfectly located London is within easy reach 6 Waterside Apartments 22 Site Plan Carefully considered Everything on your doorstep 8 The Piazza 24 Architecture At the heart of Kennet Island Considered design, beautiful views 10 Keeping Fit 26 Specification Work out and de-stress A high specification as standard 12 Open Space 30 Vision2020 The environmental side of Our commitment to sustainable living Kennet Island 32 St James 14 Shopping Designed for life With much more to offer 34 St James 16 Going Out Recent award success Buzzing bars to fine dining 36 Maps How to find us 4 KENNET ISLAND Kennet Island PERFECTLY LOCATED The Blade River Thames Oxford The Oracle Reading Train Station Reading Train Royal Berkshire Hospital Royal Berkshire University of Reading Brunel Retail Park Hilton Hotel Green Park Madejski Stadium Reading Gate Retail Park Junction 11 of M4 When living at Kennet Island, convenience comes as standard. Located close to the centre of Reading, residents have superb access to the M4 motorway and train station, which is easily accessible via the Kennet Island bus service, Greenwave. The town’s wide ranging amenities and business parks are also close by, this Henley-on-Thames includes the Oracle shopping centre, Brunel Retail Park, the Madejski Stadium, Green Park and Thames Valley Business Park which is home to a variety of leading multi-national corporations. 6 KENNET ISLAND ‘ Contemporary styling incorporating clean lines, have been designed to ensure that the new Waterside Apartments integrate with the existing houses at Kennet Island.’ Computer Generated Image of Kennet Island indicative only. Waterside Apartments CAREFULLY CONSIDERED Computer Generated Image of Kennet Island indicative only. The 1 and 2 bedroom Waterside Apartments Careful consideration has gone into designing at Kennet Island benefit from St James’ interiors that maximise light and space in order commitment to create distinctive living to provide living spaces that are as practical environments of exceptional quality, as they are desirable. Throughout you will find design and specification. the high level of build quality synonymous with St James plus a host of features and finishing touches that elevate these homes above the ordinary. 8 KENNET ISLAND At the heart of Kennet Island A STUNNING LANDSCAPED PIAZZA Above and opposite Creating a focal point for the Kennet Island The Piazza is also where you can catch Kennet The Piazza at community is the stunning Piazza and water Island’s dedicated regular bus service, widely Kennet Island feature. Every aspect of this centrepiece has used and very highly regarded by residents. been carefully considered, from the unique The service runs every 30 minutes during artist-designed benches, bus stops and even peak times to key destinations including the refuse bins, which all echo the fluid shape Reading train station in just 10 minutes, of waves to symbolise life on an island. Green Park and the Madejski Stadium. More than just a place to meet and relax, The ever growing community at Kennet Island the Piazza is also home to the residents’ is supported by residents who volunteer as gym – Fit@KI, a buzzing licensed café – active committee members dedicating time the Island Lounge, a Hudsons convenience to building a solid network, organising social store and the Little Kingdom Daycare events and meetings. children’s nursery, all designed for your comfort and ease. LANDSCAPED PIAZZA RESIDENTS’ GYM LICENSED CAFÉ NURSERY CONVENIENCE STORE DEDICATED BUS SERVICE 10 KENNET ISLAND Work out and de-stress FROM YOUR NEW HOME If the hassle of getting home then going out Nuffield Health & Fitness Club,* based at to a gym is putting you off any sort of exercise Green Park, also has a fully equipped gym, regime then living at Kennet Island will see powerplate and 20m swimming pool as well the end of any excuses. Fit@KI is the on-site as a nutritionist and physiotherapist available. residents’ gym and fitness centre where, for a Longwater Lake at Green Park offers a small monthly membership fee, you can make network of cycle-ways including a designated use of a wide range of the latest resistance and off-road cycle path connecting to the town cardiovascular equipment seven days a week. centre, as part of the SUSTRANS national cycle network. Nature trails and paths also For water lovers, residents can enjoy an run around its banks and it is home to events invigorating swim in an indoor heated pool such as angling competitions, the Green Park at the nearby Living Well Health Club* at the challenge and the Corus Elite Series Triathlon. Hilton Reading Hotel, located at the entrance For runners, there are many well-established to Kennet Island. Here you can also soothe running routes local to Kennet Island. tired muscles in the steam room or rejuvenate your whole body in the sauna. A range of fitness classes are also available and you can choose a membership that best suits you. * Membership fees apply 12 KENNET ISLAND Landscaped open spaces and ecological corridor THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE OF KENNET ISLAND The landscaping at Kennet Island has been The Foudry Brook ecological corridor situated designed to provide year-round interest by at the front of the site provides a delightful carefully selecting mature and evergreen environment for the Waterside Apartments. planting. All open spaces have been utilised Residents will be able to wander over the for residents’ benefit. Designated play areas viewing stations located in various positions with a full range of activities provide a safe or along the boardwalk, allowing everyone and stimulating environment for children, to enjoy the potential breeding habitat for while adults can enjoy the formal landscaping a wide number of species including water of the Piazza area or sit under the shade of voles, swans, coots and a large selection of the lime trees in Boules Court. native birds. This significantly improves the environmental area through balancing ponds The elevated design allows parked cars to be and planting of terraced reed beds. hidden at ground level while enabling further amenity space and landscaping above. Left Foudry Brook ‘ Foudry Brook ecological corridor situated at the front of the site provides a delightful environment for the Waterside Apartments.’ 14 KENNET ISLAND A retail destination WITH MUCH MORE TO OFFER Above When it comes to retail therapy, it has to Elsewhere in town you will find an eclectic Waterside seating be Reading. As one of the top shopping mix of fascinating independent shops at at the Oracle destinations in the UK by brand presence, the Broad Street Mall: John Lewis, Marks & shopping centre the town centre is home to the Oracle with Spencer and a twice-monthly farmers market Opposite page its 90 shops; from chic boutiques to major specialising in fresh delicious local produce. The Oracle department stores like House of Fraser and Just half a mile from Kennet Island is Brunel shopping centre Debenhams. The Oracle also offers a Vue Retail Park, home to DIY and electrical stores cinema complex, a range of riverside bars, as well as other well known shops such as cafés and restaurants, an opportunity for Next and Laura Ashley. some sumptuous al fresco dining. 16 KENNET ISLAND Browns Bar & Brasserie and Jamie’s italian at the Oracle From buzzing bars TO FINE DINING Over the last few years, Reading has built If you’re looking for the ultimate cocktail chic, an exciting reputation for the quality of its the hidden garden at the back of Cerise in the restaurants, brasseries and bars, catering Forbury Hotel provides a sophisticated and not just for devotees of fine dining but for decidedly romantic destination. The Penta members of the café society. Hotel is known for its truly comprehensive cocktail list, while the Malmaison combines The Oracle is host to many popular restaurants a chic ambiance with a cellar that will delight in its charming riverside location, including even the most discerning wine connoisseur. Giraffe, Las Iguanas, Slug and Lettuce and Wagamama. Meanwhile a unique and Finally, for that very special occasion, there’s individual dining experience can be enjoyed L’Ortolan. Discretely nestled away in the at restaurants such as Eden/Cerise at the nearby village of Shinfield, this Michelin Forbury Hotel, Pepe Sale and the Malmaison Starred restaurant is a local legend renowned Brasserie. For clubs and bars the Friar Street/ for its unique and original interpretations of Gun Street area offers a varied selection modern French fine dining. including Q, O’Neills, Yates and the Pitcher and Piano. Whilst in the area, don’t miss Revolution,