New owner shares plans to transform historic jail

Mr Bi, who founded the Ziran Education Foundation, purchased the site in January

The new owner of a historic prison, which once held Irish writer Oscar Wilde, has spoken about his plans to transform the venue.

Channing Bi said he hopes to turn Reading Prison into a hotel, museum and art gallery.

The Chinese businessman, who bought the site from the Ministry of Justice for £7m in January, estimates the project could cost about £100m.

Some areas of the prison are Grade II listed but Mr Bi said if Reading Borough Council granted planning permission, the work could be finished in just two years.

Mr Bi, who founded the Ziran Education Foundation, said he has other business interests that will help “to support this project" financially.

He said it will not require a loan and the costs would not be offset by building flats on any part of the site.

The plans do not include building flats on any part of the site

The prison, built in 1844, has been empty for more than 10 years.

When talking about what inspired him to purchase the prison Mr Bi said: “The prison’s history makes me think that freedom is very important.”

Oscar Wilde spent two years at the jail after being convicted in 1895 of gross indecency - effectively for being gay.

He spent the last three years of his life in exile in France, where he composed his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, describing an execution at the prison.

Mr Bi said "of course" the work by Banksy will stay

In 2021, a portrait by the celebrated street artist Banksy appeared on a prison wall.

The image showed a prisoner escaping on a rope made of bedsheets tied to a typewriter.

Mr Bi said "of course" the work by Banksy will stay.

He said: “I know the painting is very important, and the meaning for me is very very useful, and gave me some ideas.

"People need freedom and I think it will stay a long, long time in Reading."