The prison, colloquially known as Reading Gaol, was sold after more than a decade of being closed to an organisation called the Ziran Education Foundation.
The head of the organisation is Chinese millionaire Channing Bi, who purchased the site for £7 million from the Ministry of Justice in January 2024.
Questions about the vision for the site are lingering more than two years on.
Channing Bi, founder of the Ziran Education Foundation, who purchased Reading Prison for around £7 million. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)
These were raised at a full meeting of Reading Borough Council on October 13.
Councillor Richard Walkem (Green, Coley) asked: “Reports earlier in the year about the future of Reading Gaol have raised more questions about when firm plans will come forward.
“Reading Gaol is an important historic site.
“Green Party councillors want to see it brought back into use in a way that protects its heritage, benefits the community, and includes truly affordable housing.
“Can an update be given on the council’s discussions with the owners of Reading Gaol, what progress has been made towards a planning application and a genuine consultation with residents on the owners’ plans and the future of the site?”
Richard Walkem, the newly elected Green councillor for Coley ward. (Image: Reading Green Party)
The question was answered by Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning and assets.
He said: “I agree that Reading Gaol is one of our town’s most important heritage assets and has the potential to become a landmark cultural destination.
“I am keen to see a sustainable future secured for the site that respects its unique history while opening it up for the benefit of residents, visitors and future generations.
“Any development or future use of the site should celebrate the Gaol’s heritage, support culture and creativity, and contribute positively to the wider regeneration and economic vitality of Reading.”
Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) deputy leader of Reading Borough Council and lead councillor for planning and assets. (Image: Reading Labour)
He then explained that the council has worked proactively by identifying it as an important location for development in its Local Plan and in a Reading Prison Framework created in 2015, which have been subject to consultation.
The council is now waiting for the Ziran Education Foundation to hold a pre-application consultation on its designs for the prison, ahead of a planning application being submitted.
Cllr Leng said: “We have sought to engage with the owners at every opportunity.
“Officers have set out the terms of a Planning Performance Agreement to the owner and the representatives to identify timescales and processes to manage any pre-application enquiry and application, and are awaiting their response.
“This mechanism is an effective way to manage input from the council on a coordinated basis.
“We do not currently have a timescale from the owner as to when a pre-application will be entered into, nor any successor planning application come
forward.
“The site is subject to a local plan allocation (Policy CR13a) that should include a cultural, heritage or leisure element and potentially other uses consistent with its heritage.
“The owners of the site have confirmed in previous high-level meetings that the developing plans broadly align with the site allocation vision.
“Once a planning application is received, it will be subject to public consultation.
“In addition, part of our advice to the owner has been, and continues to be, to engage thoroughly with interested stakeholders and the public on any emerging proposals, with the opportunity for those meaningful engagement channels to influence proposals.
“I am not in a position to say anything further at this time as we await the pre-application, but please be assured that I consider this to be a matter of the highest priority for Reading.”
