Expansion threatens historic mansions

Last updated 29 Dec 2008 10:25 0 Comments

TWO HISTORIC mansions may be facing the bulldozers if a school's plan for a new building, a leisure centre and 100 homes goes ahead.

The Elvian School in Southcote - formerly Presentation College - has confirmed its scheme for the site between Bath Road and Southcote Lane would involve knocking down Rotherfield Grange and Oakland Hall, once the home of the famous Sutton Seeds family.

In its initial redevelopment plan, which it plans to discuss with the council before submitting an application next year, the school said: "Oakland Hall and Rotherfield Grange are not considered to be of official historic interest, as confirmed by an English Heritage inspection in 2007.

"Sadly, these buildings are also not capable of conversion to a viable form of use."

The move has been met with dismay by Reading Civic Society and chairman Richard Bennett said that originally there was a line of mansions along Bath Road. He added: "It is very sad that another two, which we hold in greater esteem than English Heritage do, are to bite the dust."

The Presentation Brothers religious order ran the school from the 1930s until 2004, when it was taken over by the Licensed Trade Charity.

The Elvian currently has 180 pupils aged from three to 18 but hopes to increase its student roll to 400. It would also stop taking new pupils aged under 11.

The new school building would be roughly equivalent to four storeys high and would include a library, dining hall, classrooms, an art and technology area, a sixth form centre and a sports hall.

The site would also include a David Lloyd Leisure Racquets Club, providing a children's activity centre, indoor and outdoor heated pools and tennis courts, a gym, an outdoor games area and treatment rooms such as saunas and plunge pools.

There would also be a separate entrance and changing facilities for school pupils to use the centre.

Detailed plans for up to 110 homes have not been drawn up yet but would probably include one and two-bedroom four-storey flats near Southcote Lane and two, three and four-bedroom terraced houses nearer to Bath Road, up to three storeys high.

Access to the homes would be from Southcote Lane and two main entrances in Bath Road would be for deliveries and the school and leisure centre.

Do you live nearby or have links to the school? Have your say about the plans below

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 24 Dec 08

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