Caversham's School Site Conversion Sparks Controversy

There's a clash brewing in Caversham after Churchill Living applied to turn the closed Hemdean House school site into 62 homes.

Hemdean House shut in July 2024. The plan would create 51 retirement apartments, convert the School House into 10 one‑bed open‑market flats, and turn the Gate House into a single house. The Gate House is currently occupied by the Play Day Nursery; the plans say the nursery's lease runs until October.

The application to Reading Borough Council has prompted 112 comments from neighbours, with big concerns about parking, road safety and whether the area needs more retirement housing.

One neighbour wrote: "I am not a NIMBY, and I understand that things change, but I am very worried that a series of questions remain unanswered about the development."

Objectors want to know how many extra cars the scheme will add and say traffic and safety will suffer - one called for a 20mph zone.

Parking proposed is limited: the retirement block would have 16 spaces plus three visitor spots; each one‑bed flat gets one space; the Lodge House would have two, with seven unallocated spaces.

The resident added: "I’m concerned that the site is listed as brownfield – this is inaccurate."

They also warned of lost green space: "There are several trees located there, a large area of lawn and several areas offering wildlife sanctuary space."

A report by consultancy firm TetraTech states a 17.29 increase in biodiversity will be achieved by the development.

Another neighbour questioned the need for more retirement homes in Caversham, naming Beechwood Grove, Crayshaw Court and the planned Caversham Park complex.

Planning Issues, acting for the developer, pointed to demographic need, noting the over‑65s made up 12 per cent of Reading's population in 2021, and argued the new units would help meet demand.

They wrote: "Given the identified need and lack of current units on the open market, it is evident that there is a need for retirement housing in the locality and the 51 units proposed through this development would aid in meeting this requirement."

On the scheme overall, the agent added: "The proposed redevelopment of the site will provide an additional 62 units of housing, which will be delivered within the next five years, will significantly assist the Council in meeting its housing targets and should be given substantial weight when considering the planning balance."

To see the full plans, search for reference PL/26/0138 on Reading Borough Council's planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter