Plans for Caversham Park redevelopment work filed

The redevelopment of a Grade II listed mansion, previously used by the BBC, will require the temporary removal of stone gate pillars at its entrance, plans show.

Caversham Park in Reading was used by BBC Monitoring and BBC Radio Berkshire until 2018.

A plan to use the house for assisted living flats and the wider site for other homes was approved in June 2024.

Documents show an agreement over financial contributions developer Beechcroft Developments will make towards infrastructure was agreed by the company, the BBC and Reading Borough Council last month.

Cotswold Natural Stone is working on behalf of Beechcroft Developments.

It said the two piers, which are also Grade II listed, will be "carefully dismantled" from their position in Peppard Road and stored on site.

They will be reconstructed after work has finished.

"The works are explicitly temporary and reversible. Original materials will be retained, protected, and reinstated wherever possible," Cotswold Natural Stone said in a planning application.

"No permanent alteration to the historic significance of the gate piers will occur as a result of these works."

Historic England said the pillars "probably" dated from about 1850.

Other work across the Caversham Park site is set to include a 64-bed care home to the west of Caversham Park House.

Previously, Reading council officers said though some of the development could cause "harm" to heritage assets, it would not outweigh the public benefits of the homes.

The Section 106 agreement, agreed between the council, the BBC and Beechcroft Developments on 30 January confirmed some of the site will be allocated for community use.

That will include its cricket pitch, tennis court and croquet lawn.

The deal between the BBC and Beechcroft Developments over the potential purchase of the site was formally agreed in March 2024.