The BBC has finally moved out of a former stately home it used to spy on the Nazis as it ploughs ahead with a controversial £20million sale.
Caversham Park estate in Berkshire was bought by the public service broadcaster in 1941 with government money so it could monitor communications from Nazi Germany.
The Beeb used it as its monitoring headquarters for over 70 years but are now selling it after relocating the service to London.
But there have been objections to the sale from some politicians who claim Caversham Park is a ‘national asset’ and is not the BBC’s to sell.
The BBC announced in 2016 it was closing its monitoring service at Caversham Park and relocating it to London, axing about 100 staff in the cost-cutting process.
Most BBC staff left the building for new homes earlier this year and BBC Radio Berkshire were the last staff to leave the site on Tuesday.
The government has previously been urged to put a stop to the sale, claiming the estate belongs to the taxpayer as it was bought by the BBC with public money.
Caversham Park estate in Berkshire was bought by the public service broadcaster in 1941 with government money so it could monitor communications from Nazi Germany
The BBC announced in 2016 it was closing its monitoring service at Caversham Park and relocating it to London, axing about 100 staff in the cost-cutting process
Most BBC staff left the building for new homes earlier this year and BBC Radio Berkshire were the last staff to leave the site on Tuesday
There have been objections to the sale from some politicians who claim Caversham Park is a ‘national asset’ and is not the BBC’s to sell
The BBC maintain that they are the rightful owners and the stately home is currently under offer through estate agents Lambert Smith Hampton.
It is not known who the potential buyer is or how much they are purchasing the property for but experts have valued the estate at about £20million.
It is also not known what the new owners will do with Caversham Park, although converting it into flats or a luxury hotel are two options.
Rob Wilson, the former MP for Reading East until last year, said he had previously raised concerns with the MoD and the BBC about the sale.
Mr Wilson said: ‘The government has a legal duty to make sure that they are getting value for taxpayers’ money.
‘As far as I know the issue over ownership has not been properly established and in my view that needs to be sorted before any sale goes ahead.
‘The BBC are ploughing ahead because they say there is no issue and they believe they own the property.
‘I think it’s really important that both the government and the BBC make absolutely certain who legally owns the site.
The building has been demolished and rebuilt several times and its gardens were designed by Capability Brown in the 1760s (shown is a drawing of the estate from 1799)
Subject to planning permission, the impressive building could be converted back into one grand home or be redeveloped to become luxury flats, a hotel, retirement home or healthcare facility
The BBC bought the grand stately home and its 93 acres of grounds (shown) in 1941 for the World Service but it did so using government money
‘The government has a duty to protect that money and the BBC has a duty to act in good faith.
‘If this issue remains unresolved it could undermine the sale of the property. I would say let the buyer beware.’
The BBC bought the grand stately home and its 93 acres of grounds in 1941 for the World Service but it did so using government money.
The monitoring service remained largely funded by the state until 2014 when the BBC took over responsibility for the service and its funding.
Subject to planning permission, the impressive building could be converted back into one grand home or be redeveloped to become luxury flats, a hotel, retirement home or healthcare facility.
A spokesman for the BBC said that the broadcaster’s name appears on Land Registry documents for the ownership of Caversham Park.
They said: ‘Caversham Park was originally purchased by the BBC in the early 1940s for the use of the World Service.
‘The BBC took on the responsibility for the World Service and its funding in 2014 and is, therefore, entitled to the proceeds of any future sale.’