Plans for new wellbeing centre for Reading NHS staff
A listed-building next to RBH could be turned into gym and quiet space for hospital staff
A Grade II-listed hospital building in disrepair could become a wellbeing centre for NHS staff under new plans submitted to the council.
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has submitted a planning application to the council seeking to convert 17 Craven Road into a wellbeing centre for its staff.
The wellbeing centre would include a gym, activity spaces for yoga, and pilates and spaces for quiet reflection.
There is also a large garden, which would be a private space for the staff to use.
Opposite Royal Berkshire Hospital, the building has been in the ownership of the trust since 1997 when it was purchased from Reading School.
It has been used by the trust for several purposes since its acquisition, but in recent times has fallen into a poor state of repair meaning and has been disused for around two years.
Previous plans to turn 17 Craven Road into a medical centre for GP surgeries were scrapped in 2016 due to a u-turn from the trust’s board.
Works were approved in February 2021 to remove the building’s damaged timbers and plaster, due to issues with damp and water entering the building, and for roof repairs.
These works are currently being carried out to make the building safe.
This latest application seeks to convert the building into a wellbeing centre once it is repaired.
The trust says there is currently a small wellbeing space in the TEC Building on the main hospital campus, but this sits adjacent to clinical support services and does not offer users a clear break away from the workplace.
Number 17 Craven Road will expand the facilities on offer and allow staff a clear break from their working environment.
The works to convert 17 Craven Road will be funded using both NHS capital money and charitable funds.