The early planning stages to transform Reading Prison into a cultural hub are in progress two years after it was purchased by a Chinese billionaire.
The prison, affectionately referred to as Reading Gaol, has been largely dormant for more than 10 years, with inmates leaving in 2013 and the site closing a year later.
The prominent site near the town centre, next to Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins, was sold to the Ziran Education Foundation by the previous Conservative government in January 2024.
The sale followed a bidding process initiated by the Ministry of Justice, with Chinese billionaire Channing Bi reportedly acquiring the prison for £7 million.
Mr Bi made the purchase for his organisation the Ziran Education Foundation, which has a vision of transforming it into ‘The ReCentre’, providing an art space and a boutique hotel.
The foundation is in the early stages of planning and private consultations with stakeholders, including Reading Borough Council.
It has been revealed that the organisation is revising its initial concept for the site that was devised by an Italian architect.
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central, told BBC Berkshire: “The original architect was based in Italy and, while that architect had some wonderful ideas, obviously there are some practical issues with the existing site.
“What I understand is that there’s a competition going on to find another architect and, apparently, at that point we’ve been told there’ll be some plans we can look at.”
In additional comments to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Rodda said: “Reading Gaol is our most important historic building and it has amazing potential.
“I hope that the project to restore it and use it for arts and heritage can make real progress this year, and I understand that the new owner is selecting a new architect to work on drawing up plans.
“I hope this process can be completed soon, and I am looking forward to meeting the new architect.”
The news comes amid desires for the prison to be transformed into a hub for arts and culture, as the writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was imprisoned there from 1895 to 1897.
The prison was opened for the Artangel exhibition in 2016, sparking ideas for the facility to become a cultural hub.
Illusive street artist Bansky stencilled the ‘Create Escape’ of a convict using a typewriter to escape from the prison onto the wall of the Gaol in 2021.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service was given a sneak peek around the Gaol in October 2024 on the invitation of the Ziran Education Foundation, Matt Rodda MP and former mayor Tony Page.
The private tour involved standing in the cell where Oscar Wilde was held, and a briefing from Mr Bi and Ziran Education Foundation officials.
Parts of the prison were decorated with Tibetan prayer flags and other ornaments.
The website for the foundation states that The ReCentre will “serve as a paean to unfettered creative expression, a refuge for artists worldwide who face persecution.”
