Formal bidding process opens for land at 82 Gosbrook Road, Caversham (formerly The Heights Primary School) Deadline 30 Oct 2024

Article date
4 September 2024
Primary interest
Voluntary sector

Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the freehold land at 82 Gosbrook Road, Caversham, RG4 8BH. This is the former The Heights Primary School site and is being concurrently released to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and on the open market via Vails Estate Agents for bids.

Deadline:

Local VCS organisations are invited to submit their subject to planning proposals by 12noon on 30 October 2024.

How to apply:

If you are a local VCS organisation then please contact info@rva.org.uk or telephone 0118 9372273 to receive copies of the following:

  • Marketing brochure
  • Application process
  • Application to bid form
  • Scoring system
  • Access Suitability Assessment
  • Plan
  • Flood Risk Assessment
  • Tree Preservation Orders

The RVA Advice Service can offer support and advice to local VCS organisations with understanding the third sector bidding process and any related governance support in order to submit your application.

Once you are ready to submit your application, please send these to the following individual at RBC:

Mark Redfern – mark.redfearn@reading.gov.uk
Social Inclusion and VCS Partnerships Manager
Reading Borough Council
Civic Offices
Bridge Street
Reading, RG1 2LU

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

Officers will then 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 VCS organisation, based on the contribution to the Council’s priorities as set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan. All bids received from the VCS will be reported to the RBC Policy Committee.

Viewings

Viewings can be arranged by contacting James Newton at Vails Estate Agents via email JNewton@vailwilliams.com or telephone 07393 235709, or at anytime from outside the fence at your own risk.

Further support
  • VCS organisations are welcome to contact the RVA Advice Service at advice@rva.org.uk for free, confidential advice and assistance with submitting their application.
  • VCS organisations can apply for pro bono professional services from LandAid, for example a Surveyor, Architect, Solicitor etc. You can read more here.