Prudential- or more specifically its main tenant Cisco Systems is sitting on 290,000 sq ft (26,940 sq metres) of built and empty space at GreenPark, but this is not enough to make the investor question its commitment to Reading.

With Thames Water, Prudential is master planning a development on the existing site of the water treatment plant next to the A33 north of GreenPark. Early plans for the scheme called Reading Gateway are for mixed-use development of office and light industrial space as well as residential development. Nigel Aslin, head of corporate real estate at Strutt & Parker, is advising Prudential and has appointed designers Scott Brownrigg and Campbell Gordon to master plan the 30 acre (12.1ha) site that he refers to as an "intriguing prospect".

The master planning exercise is 'at the conceptual stage' but any large scale development would take advantage of £50m in the new junction 11 of the M4. A land acquisition is under way for the exit and roundabout, designed by consulting engineer Peter Brett Associates, which will double the junction's size and aims to solve congestion problems from the east. A start on the site is due in early 2004.