Campaigners 'gutted' by £7M sale price of Reading Prison site

A campaigner says she is "gutted" the former Reading Prison has been sold for £7 million.

Linda Saul, from Save Reading Gaol, said she is disappointed by the price, as street artist Banksy offered to contribute more when the group wanted to turn the site into an arts hub.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed the prison has been sold to a non-profit organisation, the Ziran Education Foundation.  

The foundation will now discuss plans with Reading Borough Council, as it will need to approve any development plans.  

Linda Saul says she now hopes there will be community involvement in the space.

WATCH: Linda Saul, Save Reading Gaol says she is 'gutted' at the sale price

Initial proposals included plans for an educational centre including a museum outlining the history of the prison and an exhibition space accessible to the public.   

Since its closure in 2014, a campaign to turn it into an arts hub has gained backing from a number of celebrities including Kate Winslet.

Street artist Banksy also helped draw attention to the cause.

In March 2021, Banksy added a piece of artwork to the prison wall showing a prisoner escaping with a typewriter.

The site was closed by the government as part of its jail modernisation programme and put up for sale in 2019.

In a statement, Reading Council Leader Jason Brock said: "We maintain this is a hugely significant site, and there exists an opportunity to transform it into something truly unique.

"While the confirmation of sale from the MoJ to the Council only contains scant detail at this stage, we welcome that the successful bid recognises the historical significance of this site to Reading, the wider region and nationally."

The MoJ says proceeds from the sale will now be reinvested in the wider prison estate to help reduce reoffending and protect the public.

It says in the last decade it has raised over £105m through the sale of former prison sites. 

The MP for Reading East, Matt Rodda, says he wants to see more detail about the deal, but is cautiously optimistic.

WATCH: Matt Rodda, MP for Reading East, says he is 'cautiously optimistic'

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