A stately building that was previously used by the BBC and has sat empty for six years is set to stay that way for longer.
Caversham Park is a stately building north of the River Thames that was previously used by BBC Monitoring and BBC Radio Berkshire.
However, the site was private during the BBC’s tenure, and has been closed off since the broadcasting corporation vacated in 2018.
Plans to redevelop the site were submitted two years ago, which would have involved conversion and works to the Grade II listed Mansion House along with the construction of new care homes and apartments.
READ MORE: Plans revealed for BBC site in Reading revealed
However, the development has not been decided on yet, as changes to the project have been made by Beechcroft Developments, a company specialising in luxury retirement communities.
The changes result in a reduction in the amount of homes originally envisaged for the site.
The revised project reduces homes built north of the existing car park and north east of the mansion house to 12 houses.
Previously, Beechcroft had applied to build 20 homes in this area.
On a separate part of the site, in the area to the east of the main house, the developers are seeking to build nine homes and 12 apartments, reserved for over 55s only.
Previously, Beechcroft had applied to build 20 apartments instead, which has been reduced in the redesign.
The company has also redrawn its plan for the Caversham Park House, allowing it to add one two-bed assisted living apartment.
If approved, the house would feature 65 assisted living units
made up of a mix of 23 one-bed flats, 40 two-bed flats and 2 two-bed houses.
READ MORE: Call for changes to be made to huge plan for historic Caversham Park
In less stark changes, 27 affordable homes will now be split roughly 50/50 between affordable rent and ‘discount market sale’.
In total, 16 homes have been removed from the project in the changes that were submitted last month.
A planning agent from Savills concluded that the changes result in a reduced level of harm to the heritage assets on the site, namely the mansion house and a Grade II listed temple built in Doric style situated to the east of the house.
A heritage statement from Montagu Evans said: “The proposals do not involve works to the Temple and its significance would be preserved.
“The proposals would change the setting of the listed building, and most notably by replacing the utilitarian buildings and fencing which interposes between the listed building and the main house in the long axial view.”
The agent argued the changes to the development ‘benefit the appreciation of the listed building and its relationship to the house.’
They also noted that a care home building has been shifted on the site to preserve views to the temple and the main house.
You can view the Caversham Park project by typing reference 220409 into the council’s planning portal.
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