Lower Earley


Lower Earley is a large suburb of Reading, within the English county of Berkshire. It forms part of a large suburban conurbation of over 85,000 inhabitants adjoining east and south-east Reading. Lower Earley and Earley have a combined population of around 32,000 and Lower Earley itself has developed since the late 1970s. By the mid 1980s it was considered to be the largest private housing development in the UK. Lower Earley forms a major part of Wokingham Borough. In 2014, the RG6 postcode area was rated one of the most desirable postcode areas to live in England.

History

From 1977, the Lower Earley private estate was constructed. Three new primary schools were built, together with a large supermarket complex, which opened in 1979, and a sports centre. In 1988, a second shopping area, Maiden Place, opened.

Facilities

Schools

There are three primary schools in Lower Earley, Hawkedon Primary School, Hillside Primary School and Radstock Primary School. An additional secondary school was planned roughly opposite the sports centre next to Rushey Way, possibly on the site next to the police station. However the school never materialised, and the land was built on. The main secondary schools that students from the area attend are The Bulmershe School, Maiden Erlegh School, The Forest School, The Emmbrook School and The Holt School, as well as some students attending the local single-sex grammar schools, Reading School and Kendrick School. There is also a pre-school next to Chalfont Park.

District Centre

There is a District Centre in the middle of Lower Earley.

Retail facilities

The Maiden Place Shopping Precinct was opened in 1988 on Kilnsea Drive. Separate from this is a large Asda superstore, with several associated shops.

Local Nature Reserve

There is a local nature reserve called Pearman's Copse within the borders of Lower Earley.

Transport

Lower Earley has two main bus links to Central Reading, the 21, and 19b, run by Reading Buses. Service 21 runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting from Kilnsea Drive to Reading Station via the University. The 19b runs every 45–60 minutes from Asda/Bradmore Way to Reading Station via the Royal Berkshire Hospital. There is also the 919 route which goes from Lower Earley to Reading School.

Reading FC Buses

have also introduced a F33 bus service which serves people wishing to travel to Madjeski Stadium for Reading FC during home matches.