Cemetery junction arch set to become food court and arts hub

Reading Borough Council (RBC) is planning to give local arts group Junction Arch Heritage & Arts (JAHA) 18 months to win funding for its proposals for a community Heritage and Arts Hub at Reading’s iconic Cemetery Junction arch.

The council’s Policy committee will meet on July 12 and is set to approve JAHA’s £40,000 bid to turn the arch into offices and build a food court of shipping containers as its preferred scheme.

READ MORE: Campaigners ask for Reading Old Cemetery to be protected as asset of community value

Whilst not the top offer financially, with other bids to turn the arch into homes coming in at £100,000 and £110,000, the council said it provides economic, community and social wellbeing opportunities.

Councillor Tony Page, RBC’s deputy leader, said: “Reading’s Grade II listed Cemetery Arch is one of our most iconic and instantly recognisable landmarks.

“The council’s proposal is to offer JAHA an 18-month window to develop its plans for a Heritage and Arts Hub further by bidding for relevant heritage funding streams.

“JAHA’s bid offers Reading by far the best value in terms of the wider community benefits, which is why the Council is pleased to offer it this important window of opportunity.

“We wish JAHA well in their bids for funding from a variety of heritage grants. We look forward to good news on this front, and to watching their plans develop in the months to come.”

A report to Policy Committee on Monday July 12 will propose entering into an initial 18-month lease agreement with JAHA, giving the group time to progress its proposed loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) to restore the Grade II listed structure.

The development is proposed in two phases and is subject to funding.

The first phase focuses on the conservation of the Cemetery Arch building, the restoration of rooms to create affordable office space and the creation of a food court area made of shipping containers.

PICTURED: Plans for the archway

The food court area would be run by Blue Collar, who run a food market twice-weekly at Market Place and recently submitted plans for a new shipping container food and drink market on Hosier Street.

READ MORE: Blue Collar food and drink market shipping container plans

JAHA propose to fund this work by securing a AHF loan. If successful, the 250-year lease would be offered and the second phase would follow, subject to planning permission, which would include:

• The creation of exhibition space of heritage and art
• A single-storey building and gardens for local businesses and community groups

This would be funded by a Heritage Impact Loan of £165k from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) sustained by income from the food court and office lettings.

If funding is not secured for phase, JAHA would still continue with the food court and offices elements of the project.

The arch’s history

The archway gives access to Reading Old Cemetery and gained nationwide prominence as the setting for 2010 film Cemetery Junction, directed by Stephen Merchant and Reading-born Ricky Gervais.

Originally built in the 1840s, the archway was designed by local architect William Brown and is constructed in imposing bath stone.

The cemetery was taken over by the council in 1959.