Plans for Caversham School Site Rejected!

Plans to replace Hemdean House School in Caversham with new homes have been rejected by Reading Borough Council.

Hemdean House was founded in 1859 as a primary school with a nursery for children aged three to 11. The school closed in July 2024 but the gatehouse still houses Playday Nursery, a separate business that continues to operate.

Developer Churchill Living had applied to build 51 retirement apartments, convert the school house into 10 open market flats and turn the gatehouse into an open market home.

The scheme was discussed at a planning committee on June 3 and was unanimously refused. Principal planning officer Ethne Humphreys said: "The adverse impact of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits."

Tom Brooks, a parent of two children at the nursery, warned of local pressure on childcare: "This [the nursery] is a hugely valued local community resource."

"It serves around 50 children, aged three months to five years, and our experience as local parents is, particularly in the central Caversham area, other nurseries are simply full, with waiting lists in excess of a year."

He added: "The applicant must demonstrate that there is no need to retain the nursery."

Cllr Josh Williams recalled a sudden closure elsewhere: "We were just handed letters saying this nursery is closed."

The committee refused the application. You can view the decision by searching reference PL/26/0138/FUL on the council planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter