"The Moors" 82 Star Road

[KarenB]

Nothing much has happened to it since attempts at renovation a couple of years ago were called to a halt. I understand that the previous owner called in a surveyor when uncovering some of the beams and was told the whole building was unsafe. There are now metal struts (or whatever they are called) inside keeping everything up. It was sold again in December 2015 for 175,000 and virtually nothing has been done with it since then.

[chick]

Oh wow! That's a shame. Thanks for the update Karen. I guess it's just too much of a money pit with all the historic restrictions on it...

[lizwing]

I believe there are grants available for the renovation and/or upkeep of historic listed buildings. Although I also think they're quite difficult to get.

[Brita]

I'm so sorry to hear that renovation has stalled on this gorgeous little building. I complained about the original planning application as the building's integrity would have been compromised but I don't know why the application was withdrawn. I was relieved when the building was sold to someone who was keen to renovate it. It looks as though it became too expensive a project to continue. What worries me now is that the current owners will let the house get to such a state that it will fall down on its own and then a lot of money can be made selling the property as a building plot. There used to be a similar cottage on the plot next door, where newish terraced houses are now. The property is on a flood plain. Apparently, in the 1940s the Thames flooded and water went to the bottom of Donkin Hill. The land behind the property was marshy (now built on) so I can understand the name. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that someone locally can get Historic England or RBC interested in the property to see whether they can get some sort of commitment that the property will be renovated and not left to rot.

[savagethegoat]

welcome to the Forum, I can only agree with you. Yes the Floods reached Donkin Hill, after the heavy snowfalls of 1947 no doubt

https://goo.gl/images/irGpwK
https://goo.gl/images/2Q7CiC
https://goo.gl/images/ogrqe9
https://goo.gl/images/9ZdTxq
https://goo.gl/images/nrfecy

[OLDMAN]

Hi Brita and welcome to the forum

[johnH]

Planning application :

82 Star Road Caversham Reading RG4 5B

Description: The erection of a single detached dwelling and restoration of the existing listed cottage, including the construction of a replacement extension.

http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_ ... Ref=180354

[Avis]

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As it is now:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-fo ... 56891.html
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As it was:
http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AnitePu ... 396284.pdf

[Mayfield]

I saw that on Right Move and wondered if it was the house....

Nice to see you back Avis, hope you are keeping well

[maggieaitch]

It's a lot of money for a 2 bed house.

[Mayfield]

A 3 bed extended semi has just sold for the same near me, with garage and parking too....

It IS a lot for a two bed with the bathroom downstairs IMHO

[Fed-up]

What a transformation!

[piwacket]

Hello Avis hope alls well:)

I dint know what it looked like originally, but that’s a lot of money for that as it is!i

Just looked back and have now seen it.

[windrush]

Even for Reading that does seem expensive? For exactly the same price not far from us, converted from a barn around fourty years ago and this is also considered to be far too expensive! https://www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/55380781

Pete.

[piwacket]

Even for Reading that does seem expensive? For exactly the same price not far from us, ....
Pete.

That’s nice Pete - love the garden, but not so sure about the galleried landing looking about the roof void

[lizwing]

It looks lovely and it’s great that they’ve kept all the old features, great kitchen and bathroom but the price !

[piwacket]

It looks lovely and it’s great that they’ve kept all the old features, great kitchen and bathroom but the price !

Imagine what it would sell for round here!

A bungalow nearby with not half those features sold,, just before lockdown, for £640,000!

[buseng]

star1.PNG
.
As it is now:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-fo ... 56891.html
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As it was:
http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AnitePu ... 396284.pdf

Only Just seen this & the second link does not work, only a file not found 404 error.

[piwacket]

Only Just seen this & the second link does not work, only a file not found 404 error.

... hmm that’s odd - it worked yesterday. Pretty boring stuff though, just pages of building intentions.

[windrush]

Even for Reading that does seem expensive? For exactly the same price not far from us, ....
Pete.

That’s nice Pete - love the garden, but not so sure about the galleried landing looking about the roof void

An elderly lady lived alone there Pi, she passed away a few weeks ago so the daughter is selling it. It's the only property around here that faces along the hillside instead of facing across the valley, that's because it was a barn until the late seventies. The local planning officer bought it and converted it, somehow he got planning permission easily, I wonder how that happened? It's only ever had a retired couple living there, there is a stream that flows through the garden as well which isn't shown on the pics. The house next door to it was on the market for one million but it didn't sell and was withdrawn. There is a bungalow behind which has been on the market for two years at £650,000 but that hasn't had any interest. Our house is just across the road and valued at £150,000 and they sell quickly:-)

Pete.

[piwacket]

....on the market for one million but it didn't sell and was withdrawn. There is a bungalow behind which has been on the market for two years at £650,000 but that hasn't had any interest. Our house is just across the road and valued at £150,000 and they sell quickly:-)

Pete.

Well, I guess it’s Who’s buying and the economy in the area... the young couple who bought that bungalow over the road, have two young boys and wanted to move across the river for better schools and he works locally.

[windrush]

Yes that makes a difference Pi, property here is much cheaper that down south of course. I doubt that we would get a three bedroomed mid terrace with a garden and detatched garage on a private road for £150,000 in the Reading area but of course there is very little industry around here now compared to when we moved here in 1982 so many folk tend to live here and travel to work in places like Derby. Reading will never be cheap now that it is almost an overflow town from the London area. Our town is more expensive than others in the area though as it favours tourism, and the locals have to accept that taxes and house prices are higher. Travel ten miles further north from here and house prices are much higher again, that £450.000 house would be £600,000+ but travel twenty miles east and it would be around the £300,000 mark. Many youngsters born here move away eastwards when they want a house and commute back here for work.

Pete.

[Avis]

star1.PNG
.
As it is now:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-fo ... 56891.html
.
As it was:
http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AnitePu ... 396284.pdf

Only Just seen this & the second link does not work, only a file not found 404 error.

I think you might have to start from scratch - the Reading Planning site has its own mysterious ways of working! The planning application number is 180354 - the document is listed under Other Documentation as "Heritage Statement" - the photos of the building as it was start on page 26.

[Pooneil]

star1.PNG
.
As it is now:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-fo ... 56891.html
.
As it was:
http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AnitePu ... 396284.pdf

Only Just seen this & the second link does not work, only a file not found 404 error.

I think you might have to start from scratch - the Reading Planning site has its own mysterious ways of working! The planning application number is 180354 - the document is listed under Other Documentation as "Heritage Statement" - the photos of the building as it was start on page 26.

Mysterious ways indeed - I too got a 404 error on Wednesday, but having just clicked on the link in your reply, it goes straight to the report - and yes indeed what a difference!
Thank you!

[buseng]

Only Just seen this & the second link does not work, only a file not found 404 error.

I think you might have to start from scratch - the Reading Planning site has its own mysterious ways of working! The planning application number is 180354 - the document is listed under Other Documentation as "Heritage Statement" - the photos of the building as it was start on page 26.

Mysterious ways indeed - I too got a 404 error on Wednesday, but having just clicked on the link in your reply, it goes straight to the report - and yes indeed what a difference!
Thank you!

Still getting "404".

[Voiceoftreason?]

Ditto here. I might be a philistine or just an alien, bu that two bed place doesn’t appeal to me at all. Has a creepy look about it. Much prefer the Mattock place - that’s got lovely bones that some updating would transform. Wouldn’t touch that’s garden, that looks perfect to me, but inside needs a bit of redecorating.

Wonder if the grandfather clock goes with the house

[lizwing]

Here’s a bargain, it was on the market for just under £500,000 now it’s £400,000 !
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/detai ... 6655d1561f
It’s a lovely old place but they just can’t sell it.

[piwacket]

Ditto here. "...Much prefer the Mattock place - that’s got lovely bones that some updating would transform. Wouldn’t touch that’s garden, that looks perfect to me, but inside needs a bit of redecorating.

[Voiceoftreason?]

Ditto here. "...Much prefer the Mattock place - that’s got lovely bones that some updating would transform. Wouldn’t touch that’s garden, that looks perfect to me, but inside needs a bit of redecorating.

Heheh. That just means the basic structure of the building - it’s skeleton

[windrush]

Ditto here. I might be a philistine or just an alien, bu that two bed place doesn’t appeal to me at all. Has a creepy look about it. Much prefer the Mattock place - that’s got lovely bones that some updating would transform. Wouldn’t touch that’s garden, that looks perfect to me, but inside needs a bit of redecorating.

Wonder if the grandfather clock goes with the house

If you can't even spell the name of the town correctly we don't want you here anyway! It would keep you fit climbing the 1 in 5 hill up to it though. Clock isn't included, it was a big house for one elderly lady who struggled with walking but she remained there until the end came a couple of months ago. What you can't see is that the front of the house is partly hidden from view by a large tree that forms a 'canopy' over the front gate, our postman split his head open on it a couple of years ago so 'Doctor Pete' had to patch him up to stop the bleeding and apply a dressing. The lady was very tiny so she didn't have that problem!

Pete.

[Voiceoftreason?]

Yes well thank you for the sprellink les-on WR, so glad of your assiststance

I WAS hoping to fly the space ship back to the Peak District for more walking later this year, as there’s always such a warm welcome from the natives <sarcastic remark alert> . Might have to go somewhere friendlier now. Like Mogadishu.

I bet that’s not spelled correctly either!

[windrush]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Happy to oblige with the spelling lesson Vot, I'm guessing that I would have problems with your planets native tongue as well so it's perfectly understandable.

Pete.