THE SOUND of radio could soon be heard once again from the former 210FM base in Calcot if a multi-million pound plan goes ahead.
But it won’t be from the studios.
Instead, it will be from the radio sets and smart speakers installed in a potential care home.
LNT Care Developemnts has made a £3.5 million deal for the former home of 2-Ten FM, which eventually became Heart Berkshire.
The 13,570 sq ft property in The Chase, off the A4 Bath Road, is to be repurposed as a 66-bedroom care home.
The two-storey building was built in 2000, and sits on a 1.43-acre site with ample car parking.
Vail Williams acted for the vendors, commercial property portfolio specialists Lewis Investment.
Vail Williams Thames Valley region Partner Guy Parkes, based at The Thames Valley office, said: “This is a well-known property, just three miles from town, and is steeped in local radio history.
“Now it is to get a new lease of life as LNT Care Developments transforms the site into a 66-bedroom, three-storey care home offering 16 sq m bedrooms with fully en-suite wet room facilities.
“The premium specification for the home includes a cinema room, hairdressing salon, garden room, library and coffee shop – all to be set within landscaped gardens with approved parking facilities.”
LNT Care Developments, based in West Yorkshire, specialises in developing care homes, and is currently working on 20 sites across the UK with more than 100 under consideration.
Andrew Long, of LNT Care Developments, said: “These are exciting times as we continue to build state-of-the-art care homes across the UK.
“Our new Reading site is perfectly located for residents, staff and visitors and we look forward to beginning construction work.”
Lewis Investment is an independent financial services firm whose specialisms include facilitating commercial property investments through pension syndicates and property clubs.
Alastair Warwick-Smith, director of Lewis Property Services who asset manages the expanding portfolio, said: “We are delighted with Vail Williams for securing this important property disposal which will benefit our valued clients.”