An office building could be converted into a court near Reading train station if recently submitted plans are approved.
Sovereign House is a three-storey office building located near the Caversham exit of the train station, just south of the River Thames.
Previously occupied by the staff of a housing association, the offices are set to be converted into a court to process tribunal cases.
The building was purchased by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service last year, with the government department now seeking to refurbish and refit the offices to turn them into a law court.
The conversion of Sovereign House would allow the tribunal’s court to move away from its current location in Friar Street.
The plan has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.
The Tribunals Service sought pre-application advice from the council on the conversion project, which involves installing a lift shaft and enhanced security measures.
Explaining some of the changes required, a planning officer wrote: “Beyond the new lift shaft, the proposal involves limited external alterations, through some increased heights of walls, and increased security measures including bollards.
“The external scheme of security, and access alterations would appear minor in the scope of the building and site.
“However, details of the alterations will be key considerations of the applications, and a high quality finish would be expected, and should also be supported by a positive landscaping scheme.
“Due consideration of existing trees, and their root protection areas should be
considered up front.”
The conversion involves reconfiguration of Sovereign House to provide seven hearing rooms, 10 judicial offices, a members’ room, a judicial lounge with tea points, a medical room, two waiting rooms with space for 10 people each, seven server and communications rooms, a security office and a reception.
The car park for Sovereign House provides 13 regular spaces, four disabled spaces and two electric vehicle charging spaces.
The building is also in easy walking distance to and from the train station.
The Tribunals Service has applied to install a fence and a gate for the car park to enhance security.
You can view the application by typing reference PL/25/0616 into the council’s planning portal.
This project follows a successful application to convert The Carbon Building in Kings Road into the Berkshire County Court.
Sovereign House was occupied by the Sovereign Housing Association, which has been renamed Sovereign Network Group (SNG), which is headquartered in Basingstoke.
SNG runs key worker housing near the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Southcote.
