Cemetery Junction Arch Needs £700,000 for Repairs

Reading's Cemetery Junction Arch needs hundreds of thousands of pounds in repairs to stay standing.

The Grade II-listed landmark at the meeting of London Road and Wokingham Road has been scaffolded for more than 18 months while contractors work on behalf of Reading Borough Council.

Councillor Josh Williams (Green, Park) asked: "After years of being left to deteriorate, the landmark Grade II-listed Arch at Cemetery Junction is well overdue a full repair and renovation by the council.

"Can you tell us what is next for the Reading Old Cemetery Arch, and what plans does the council have to get it into community use?"

Answering, Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for assets, said: "A conservation contractor was commissioned to carry out necessary work to address the western elevation of Reading's Cemetery Arch.

"This was the only area known to require structural work. These planned works were carried out between January and June 2025 at a cost of £100,000.

"It was during these works that further structural defects were uncovered.

"An inspection of previously inaccessible loft areas, now accessed from the scaffold, revealed further necessary works, including brickwork inner linings, timber roof structure and lateral restraints between the western and eastern pediments at an estimated cost of £700,000.

"Scaffolding has remained in place since January 2025 with Heras fencing to protect passers-by.

"Officers submitted a bid through the budget setting process for 2026/27 and have been successful in receiving funding.

"Officers are now in the process of procuring necessary contractors to design and complete necessary works. Once the works are complete, we will be marketing the property, and we do hope to receive some positive interest from the market and third sector."

In a follow-up question, Cllr Williams asked whether it will be marketed as flats. Cllr Leng said the arch had previously been sold to Junction Arch Heritage & Arts (JAHA), which sought to repurpose it as a gallery and events space but was unable to deliver the project.

He said: "You may be right that it was marketed as flats, I think something came forward, but as you know, the council is committed to the old girl, the Cemetery Arch, as nearly three-quarters of a million pounds of investment will prove.

"We also sold, originally, under-valued, to JAHA, and unfortunately they were not able to carry the project forward, and when it goes out for open sale, third sector and community bids, along with the market will be able to come forward, and we will look at those bids, and officers will show their due diligence and we’ll see what happens in the future."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter