Freehold disposal of 40 Christchurch Road – bidding open until Noon, 16th November 2022

Organisation
Reading Borough Council (RBC)
Primary interest
Planning and Development
The former school property at 40 Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AW

The above Property is currently vacant, and the Council has decided to dispose of the freehold. In accordance with the Third Sector Premises Policy Statement voluntary sector organisations have a period of 8 weeks to submit a bid for the property.

Description of Property

A detached former school suitable for conversion or redevelopment.

The freehold of the property is also being advertised on the open market by Haslams Surveyors LLP.  Please access haslams.co.uk website for full Marketing Particulars.

Viewings and other enquiries

Block viewings of the property will take place on the following days (no appointment necessary during these times):

  • Tuesday 4th October 2022 at 10.00am
  • Tuesday 11th October 2022 at 10.00am
  • Tuesday 18th October 2022 at 10.00am
  • Tuesday 1st November 2022 at 10.00am
  • Tuesday 8th November 2022 at 10.00am

Please note that parties must not enter the property outside the block viewing times without prior authority and any inspection of the site is at the prospective purchaser’s risk.

All enquiries should be directed to the vendor’s sole agent:

Haslams Surveyors LLP, County House, 17 Friar Street, Reading Berks RG1 1DB

Telephone 0118 921 1500 (switchboard)

Or email: johnradford@haslams.co.uk

Bidding Process

A copy of the Third Sector application form is available here. Scoring information is available here.

Applications and accompanying documents should be sent to the below contact by Noon on 16th November 2022.

Clare Muir, Policy and Voluntary Sector Manager

Reading Borough Council, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU

E- mail:  clare.muir@reading.gov.uk

Telephone: 0118 937 2119

Please note that it is advisable to use guaranteed post/recorded delivery to ensure that your bid reaches us on time – no late bids will be considered. NB If delivering by hand, please allow an extra 24 hours for the bid to reach us via internal post systems.

Officers will assess bids on the basis of the value provided to Reading Borough Council of releasing the property in accordance with the council’s Third Sector Premises Policy Statement to a local voluntary organisation, based on the contribution to the council’s priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan. All bids received from the Voluntary Sector will be reported to Policy Committee.

Interested organisations should submit a bidding application form based on the following:

Proposal for use of the property: please provide an outline of your proposed use of the property and how this will benefit local council taxpayers, addressing the priorities of the Corporate Plan:

  • Safeguarding and protecting those that are most vulnerable.
  • Providing the best life through education, early help and healthy living.
  • Providing homes for those in most need.
  • Keeping the town clean, safe, green and active.
  • Providing infrastructure to support the economy.
  • Remaining financially sustainable to deliver these service priorities.

Basis of your offer: please state whether the offer is subject to any terms and conditions such as building survey, planning permission, third party funding etc.

Building summary: please set out a summary of the building in terms of current condition, potential opportunities and suitability for your proposed use. Please set out in sufficient detail a programme of any maintenance or improvement works you would wish to carry out at the property together with a cost summary and any related dependencies such as Listed status, Building Regulations, Planning Permission etc.

Supporting information: please complete the application form with the following information to support your bid:

  • Details of your bid offer.
  • Details of your organisational structure including legal status, constitution, terms of reference etc.
  • Audited accounts for the last 2 financial years.
  • Evidence of your experience in managing a property, including managing a Listed property.
  • Evidence of access to an experienced property manager on an ongoing basis.
  • A description of your current activity in Reading and how it has benefited local communities or added value to local services.
  • Business Plan and budget to support your proposal specifically addressing matters relating to the proposed use and the building condition.
Legal costs

The purchaser to pay the council’s reasonable legal costs including any abortive costs should a transaction not complete.

Further information
  • For information and advice on the third sector bidding process contact Reading Voluntary Action’s Advice Service by emailing advice@rva.org.uk