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)
Running costs are one side. Planning activity, flood history and ground risks for this location are in the full report.
Utilities & Restrictions
Utilities
- Electricity
- Ask Agent
- Water
- Ask Agent
- Heating
- Ask Agent
- Broadband
- Ask Agent
- Sewerage
- Ask Agent
Rights & Restrictions
- Public Rights of Way
- Ask Agent
- Private Rights of Way
- Ask Agent
- Listed Property
- Ask Agent
- Restrictions
- Ask Agent
Listed status, conservation areas and planning constraints for this location are in the full report.
Property Features
- Accessibility
- Ask Agent
- Parking
- Parking Available
- Garden
- Ask Agent
Beyond the particulars: planning activity, flood history, heritage and ground risks, checked for this exact spot.
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
Predicted 4G and 5G signal; 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.
Signal is the easy part. Planning activity, flood history and protected designations here are in the full report.
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.
Schools are just the start: sold prices nearby, planning activity and any flood history are in the full report.
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.
The area stacks up? Now check the location itself: planning nearby, protected designations and past flooding.
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.
Easy to reach matters. So do planning activity, flood history and ground risks: all in the full report.
Flood Risk
Environment Agency open data, checked around the advertised map pin for the listed acreage. Long-term risk counts flood defences; the planning map's flood zones do not. Provided by LandSale, not the listing agent, and not part of the agent's particulars. Risk varies across a holding, so verify before committing.
Rivers and the sea
Not at the pin: mapped about 20 metres away.
Planning map: Flood Zone 2.
Surface water
These bandings are the summary. Where this location sits on the flood maps, plus planning activity, heritage and ground risks, is in the full report.
Important notice: Information, maps and tags on this page are drawn from the advertising agent's marketing materials 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.
LandSale full disclaimer
Marketing information only - not formal particulars. The details on this website are provided for general guidance and do not constitute an offer or contract. Neither LandSale nor the advertising estate/land agent accepts responsibility for any inaccuracy.
1. Source of information
- Listing content: Core description, asking price, tenure, measurements, photographs and planning history originate from the marketing materials of the advertising estate or land agent. LandSale does not author this content and cannot guarantee its accuracy.
- Automated tags & categorisation: Property type, land-use class, acreage bands and similar labels may be applied by machine-learning models. They are intended as a helpful guide only and may not reflect the property's legal status or permitted use.
- Third-party & enriched data layers: Maps, boundary outlines, planning designations, soil reports, broadband coverage and other environmental or location-based insights are licensed from external suppliers. Such data are supplied “as is", may be incomplete or out of date and are subject to change without notice.
2. Verification required
Prospective purchasers must verify critical matters, including but not limited to planning permission, title boundaries, public rights of way, environmental constraints, acreage, services, access and VAT status, through their own inspections, specialist surveys, legal advisers and the selling agent before relying on the information or entering into any contract.
3. No warranty or liability
LandSale gives no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose of the information displayed. LandSale shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense arising directly or indirectly from any use of or reliance on such information, save where liability may not be excluded by law.
4. Updates & feedback
If you believe any detail on this listing is inaccurate, please let us know. We will investigate and, where appropriate, update the listing or notify the agent.
© LandSale | Version 1.3 - August 2026
Listing agent
Winkworth, Reading
Blagrave House 17 Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QB
View agent profile








