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Church Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4

Key Features

  • Exciting Commercial or Mixed Use Development Opportunity
  • Former Barclays Bank Building Closed in 2020
  • Prominent Central Caversham Location
  • Over 3000sq ft (290m2) of Space
  • Planning Approved for 3 Apartments on Upper Floors and 2 Ground Floor Commercial Units
  • Reading Borough Council Planning Application Number 240068

Description

An exceptional opportunity to acquire one of Caversham’s most notable landmark buildings, the former Barclays Bank prominently positioned on the junction of Church Street, Church Road and Bridge Street. Having been closed since 2020, this striking and characterful building presents a rare chance for a new owner to revive and reimagine a highly recognisable property at the heart of the local community.
Extending to over 3,000 sq ft (approximately 290 sq mtrs) of accommodation arranged across two floors, the building retains a number of distinctive original features, including the reinforced bank vault, offering the potential to create a truly unique commercial or mixed-use scheme in a prime and highly visible location.
The property benefits from planning consent to convert the upper parts of the building into residential accommodation. The approved plans provide for three apartments comprising a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom apartment on the first floor, together with a further two-bedroom apartment within the loft space. In addition, the consent allows for two separate commercial units at ground floor level, offering flexibility for a variety of occupiers.
Given its prominent position and generous internal space, the building offers excellent potential for a range of commercial uses including a restaurant, bar, gym, retail premises, or office space. The property would suit an owner-occupier seeking a distinctive home for their business, as well as investors looking for either a fully commercial investment or an attractive mixed-use commercial and residential development opportunity.
Overall, this is a rare chance to secure a landmark building with significant development potential in one of Caversham’s most desirable and central locations.

Location:
Set at the start of Church Street just over Caversham Bridge and the River Thames. Church Street is the high street running through Caversham between Bridge Street and Gosbrook Road. It is the main thoroughfares through Caversham and home to a Waitrose, the Caversham Precinct and a number of cafes, restaurants and hair dressers. It is in the centre of Caversham and and easy walk to the River Thames and Reading train station. Caversham lies on the north bank of the River Thames and is easily accessible by Caversham Bridge, Reading Bridge and Caversham Lock, Christchurch pedestrian bridge with Sonning Bridge a few miles to the east. The centre of Caversham features a fantastic range of shops including a Waitrose and is complemented by a good number of bars, pubs and restaurants. The local area has some fine schools including Queen Anne’s Caversham, Shiplake College, Reading Bluecoat and Reading School. The M4 is an easy drive away and reading train station has fast connections to London in under 25 minutes.

Map Location

Property details

Tenure
Freehold
Council Tax Band
TBC
Date Posted
2026-08-14

Energy Performance Certificate

Energy Efficiency Rating

Very energy efficient - lower running costs
CurrentPotential
(92+)A
(81-91)B
(69-80)C
(55-68)D
(39-54)E
(21-38)F
(1-20)G
89 B

Based on UK Energy Performance Certificate standards (EU Directive 2002/91/EC)

Utilities & Restrictions

Utilities

Electricity
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Water
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Heating
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Broadband
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Sewerage
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Rights & Restrictions

Public Rights of Way
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Private Rights of Way
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Listed Property
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Restrictions
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Property Features

Accessibility
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Parking
Parking Available
Garden
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Connectivity

Broadband

Fastest speed available at this postcode

5.5 Gbps

Gigabit full fibre

Suitable for

  • 4K streaming on every screen
  • Full-time home working
  • Online gaming & big downloads

Mobile signal

CallsDataEE Good GoodO2 Good GoodThree Good GoodVodafone Good Good

Outdoor predictions; indoor signal depends on building materials.

Ofcom Connected Nations postcode-level predictions. Speeds and signal are modelled, not measured, and vary between addresses and providers.

Nearest Schools

Primary

  • Thameside Primary School455 metresNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    5 to 11
    Pupils
    322
    Type
    Community school
  • E P Collier Primary School565 metresOfsted: Good
    Ages
    3 to 11
    Pupils
    352
    Type
    Community school
  • Caversham Primary School698 metresOfsted: Good
    Ages
    5 to 11
    Pupils
    414
    Type
    Community school
  • St Anne's Catholic Primary School762 metresNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    2 to 11
    Pupils
    165
    Type
    Voluntary aided school
    Faith
    Roman Catholic
  • Civitas Academy0.7 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    4 to 11
    Pupils
    374
    Type
    Academy sponsor led

Secondary

  • River Academy821 metresNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    373
    Type
    Free schools
  • Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre1 mileNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,537
    Type
    Academy converter
  • Kendrick School1.2 milesOfsted: Outstanding
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    939
    Type
    Academy converter
    Gender
    Girls
  • Reading School1.6 milesOfsted: Outstanding
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,138
    Type
    Academy converter
    Gender
    Boys
  • The WREN School1.7 milesOfsted report card · Apr 2026
    Ages
    11 to 19
    Pupils
    931
    Type
    Free schools

Distances are straight-line from the advertised location. Source: the national school registers (DfE, Welsh Government, Scottish Government) and Ofsted.

Amenities

Supermarket

Tesco Caversham Esso Express, Reading134 metres
Iceland Caversham, Reading151 metres
Waitrose Caversham, Reading226 metres

GP surgery

Balmore Park Surgery480 metres

Pharmacy

Boots140 metres

Hospital

Dunedin Hospital1.2 miles

Green space

Playing Field196 metres

Walking trail

Thames Path179 metres

Straight-line distances from the advertised location. Sources: NHS records, Geolytix supermarket locations, OS Open Greenspace and the national trails registers.

Getting Around

Nearest station

Reading Rail Station0.6 miles

Nearest bus stop

Bridge Street Caversham44 metres

Typical drive times

Reading3 min · 1.3 miles
Woodley10 min · 4.1 miles
Wokingham18 min · 11 miles
Oxford (city)47 min · 25 miles
Henley-on-Thames17 min · 6.9 miles

Straight-line distances from the advertised location; drive times are typical free-flow times over OpenStreetMap road data, so allow more at peak. Public transport locations from DfT NaPTAN.

Flood Risk

From Environment Agency flood map open data, checked around the advertised map pin and allowing for the listed acreage where known. This summary comes from LandSale, the advertising platform, not from the listing agent, and is not part of the agent's particulars. Risk can vary across a single holding, so verify anything critical through your own searches before committing.

Rivers and the sea

Flood Zone 2Medium risk

Surface water

A 1 in 30 or greater chance each yearHigher risk

The detail behind these bandings, including exact zones and annual chances, any recorded past flooding, plus planning, heritage, nature and ground checks, is in the .

Important notice: Information, maps and tags on this page are supplied by the advertising agent or generated automatically. LandSale has not verified them. Relying on these details is at your own risk, always carry out independent checks before committing to a purchase.

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Blagrave House 17 Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QB

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