VOLUNTARY SECTOR BIDDING OPPORTUNITY

CENTRAL CLUB BUILDING, 36-42 LONDON STREET, READING RG1 4SQ

LOCATION

The property is in the town centre on the corner of Mill Lane and London Street, close to ORACLE shopping centre and overlooking the IDR. There is no dedicated car parking available for the site, but the ORACLE car park is directly opposite the building and provides good access to parking. There is also metered on-street car parking in London Road. As a city centre site, it is convenenient for local public transport by bus and rail.

The building is located within the Southampton Street conservation area and as such special requirements, restrictions will apply in respect of any external works.

HISTORY

The building at 36-42 London Street is known locally as the Central Club Building – formerly the ‘Central Youth Provision’. The building, a former maintenance garage for police vehicles, was converted in 1978 to include:- levelling the floor in the main hall, restructuring the office space, and providing a kitchen and bar area. The large mural was painted in 1990 to tell the story of the struggle of Black people from early days to that period of time.

In 2006 the building was closed following serious incidents earlier that year, and has remained vacant since then.

Following a public consultation, a local voluntary group ‘the African Caribbean Community Group’ (ACCG) was given an opportunity to refurbish the building in order to bring it back into use as a community centre. Despite their efforts, funding was not available to brIng the building back into use, with detailed cost estimates of £675k in 2010 undertaken by an independent surveyor. In 2015 a Steering Group was set up to produce a series of options for the building, but was unable to find a way forward.

In July 2016, in accordance with the Third Sector Policy Statement, Policy Committee agreed to open bidding to voluntary/ third sector organisations for a 5 month period, prior to placing the site on the open market if no successful bidder could be found.

DESCRIPTION

The building is primarily of single storey construction, with a two-storey section to the west end of the building.

The structure is of load-bearing masonry construction, with about 0.33 thick brickwork with piers to the perimater walls, with an internal structure of steel columns and down-stand steels beams supporting the first floor and flat roof. Several large roof lights are incorporated in the roof structure.

The ground floor is 487.29sqm set out as follows:- circulation space; a large hall with stage; separate offices and storage space; meeting room; and dining room with kitchen. A steep staircase (not adequate for public use) leads to an upper floor 95.42sqm divided into meeting space; office; and 2 store rooms.

There is a skewed overhang attaching the building to the adjacent property at the South–East corner which forms a bridge over the passageway to the side of the property.

All but one entrance to the building has been bricked up, and the condition of the building has sustantially deterioriated over the last decade. The building is managed as an empty property with no current gas, electricity or water supplies.

There is no allocated car parking associated with this property.

Whilst information is available regarding the buildings condition (see below) this information is historic as are any costings provided. Interested parties are therefore urged to seek their own advice on the current state of the building. Site access may be arranged by appointment only.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

·  The mural wall is regarded as having local significance and should be retained in any plans for freehold or leashold interest, and in either a refurbished building or new build proposal.

·  For groups wishing to refurbish the building as a local centre for community use, a contribution of up to £220k is available towards capital costs.

BIDDING PROCESS

Voluntary and not for profit organisations are invited to submit their proposals by 10am on Friday 30th December 2016*.

Applications and accompanying documents should be send to:

Committee Administration

Reading Borough Council

Civic Offices

Reading

RG1 2LU

* Please note that it is advisable to use guaranteed post/recorded delivery to ensure that your bid reaches us on time – no late bids will be considered. NB If delivering by hand, please allow an extra 24 hours for the bid to reach us via internal post systems.

Officers will assess bids on the basis of the value provided to Reading Borough Council of releasing the property on a freehold or leashold basis to a voluntary or not for profit organisation, based on the contribution to the Council’s priorities as set out in the Corporate Plan 2016-2019.

http://www.reading.gov.uk/article/4464/Corporate-Plan-2016---19

The outcome of the bidding process will be reported to Policy Committee in the first quarter of 2017 (exact date to be confirmed). If there are no successful bids, the property will be placed on the open market.

Interested organisations should submit a bid based on the following:

1.  Proposal for use of the property

Please provide an outline of your proposed use of the property and how this will benefit local council taxpayers, addressing the priorities of the Coporate Plan:

·  Safeguarding and protecting those that are most vulnerable

·  Providing the best life through education, early help and healthy living

·  Providing homes for those in most need

·  Keeping the town clean, safe, green and active

·  Providing infrastructure to support the economy

·  Remaining financially sustainable to deliver these service priorities

2.  Basis of your offer

Are you proposing to submit an offer to buy the Freehold of the property or to be granted a Leasehold interest?

Please state in either case whether the offer is subject to any terms and conditions such as building survey, planning permission, 3rd party funding etc

a)  Freehold Interest

In additon, in the case of a Freehold offer please include details of the purchaser, the proposed purchase price if any and the basis and reason for the offer.

Please note the Council is not providing a guide price for the value of the property because of the condition of the property; the range of potential uses; and the nature of the parties who may be interested. It is up to individual parties to assess the market value of the property within their submissions when preparing their Business Plans.

b)  Leasehold Interest

In addition, in the case of a Leasehold offer please include details of the Tenant, the proposed rent if any and the basis and reason for the offer as well as setting set out the main commercial Lease terms including Lease period, proposed use, building works or improvements, break clauses etc

Please note that any Leasehold offer must be on the basis that that the Tenant will be reponsible for all internal and external building repairs and maintenance as well as covering all related occupier costs.

3. Building summary

Please set out a summary of the property in terms of current condition, potential opportunities and suitability for your proposed use.

Please set out in sufficent detail a programme of any works you would wish to carry out at the property together with a cost summary and any related dependencies such as Building Regs etc

Please provide detailed plans for consideration of how the mural will be retained, together with a cost summary.

4. Supporting Information

Please complete the application form with the following information to support your bid:

·  Details of your bid offer

·  Details of your organisational structure including legal status, constitution, terms of reference etc

·  Audited accounts for the last 2 financial years

·  Evidence of your experience in managing or developing a property

·  Evidence of access to an experienced property manager on an ongoing basis

·  A description of your current activity in Reading and how it has benefited local communities or added value to local services

·  Business Plan and budget to support your proposal specifically addressing matters relating to the proposed use and the building condition

LEGAL COSTS

The lessee to pay the landords reasonable legal costs including any abortive costs should a transaction not complete

VIEWING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

There will be 2 ‘open days’ for interested parties to see the building interior

Monday 8th August 2016 10am-12 noon

Thursday 8th September 2016 2pm- 4pm

For viewing appointments please contact

Irene Cameron e-mail

For information about the bidding process, please contact

Bruce Tindall or Irene Cameron

e- mail

ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS

The following documents are available on request

·  Feasiblity Study for the refubishment and extension to the Central Reading Youth Provision January 2005

·  AC&MS Level 3 Asbestos Survey 15 May 2009

·  Lambert Smith Hampton – Central Club building specification March 2010

·  Ridge Consultants – Electrical & Mechanical Services Installation report August 2010

The following background documents are available online:

·  Cabinet 14 April 2009 – Lease of Central Club Building

http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAA0ADYAOAA3AHwAfABUAHIAdQBlAHwAfAAwAHwA0

·  Cabinet 1 October 2012 – Extension to Lease of Central Club building

http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADMANAA5ADkAfAB8AFQAcgB1AGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1

·  Policy Committee 3 November 2014 – The former Central Club Building

http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADkAMAAxADcAfAB8AFQAcgB1AGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1

·  Policy Committee 18 March 2015 - The former Central Club building – consultation and review by Reading Voluntary Action

http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/2887/item09/pdf/item09_1.pdf

·  Policy Committee 18 July 2016 - The former Central Club building – report of the Feasibility Steering Group

http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/5708/item09-2/pdf/item09_(2).pdf

PHOTOGRAPHS

NB – this is a only selection of views to indicate the condition of the property. Not all rooms are included because of lack of light available for photography

Ground floor lobby view 1 / Ground floor lobby view 2
Ground floor Main Hall view 1 / Ground floor Main hall – stage
Ground floor café view 1 / Ground floor café view 2
Ground floor café kitchen view 1 / Ground floor café kitchen view
Upper floor main room view 1 / Upper floor main room view 2
Upper floor side office / Upper floor storage area view 1
Upper floor storage area view 2 / Upper floor main access staircase
Upper floor fire escape staircase

IC/BT072516 Central Club Building Specification file:///S:\volsec\Accommodation\VCS RBC Leased Premises and land\Central Club - ACCG\Central Club Bidding opportunity July 16\