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
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
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
GP surgery
Pharmacy
Hospital
Green space
Walking trail
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
Nearest bus stop
Typical drive times
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
Surface water
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 .
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© LandSale | Version 1.2 - January 2026
Listing agent
Winkworth, Reading
Blagrave House 17 Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QB









