A former Isle of Wight primary school is up for sale — with offers now being invited.
Unconditional bids are being accepted for the former home of Yarmouth Primary School now that pupils have moved down the road to Freshwater.
Split into two parcels
The site has been split into two parcels — the main school site and playground and then the separate playing field — and will be sold as two.
The Isle of Wight council agreed to put the school up for sale earlier this month after it had become ‘surplus to educational requirements’.
The site is being sold by Hose Rhodes Dickson which states the council is able to sell the main school area immediately, but the sale of the playing field would be delayed.
A deed of variation being negotiated
A deed of variation is currently being negotiated for the playing field which would allow the field to be used in more ways suited to the potential use of the former school.
Hose Rhodes Dickson says the successful purchaser of the school site would be offered first refusal of the playing field.
Sealed bids can be submitted until 12pm on Wednesday, 16th August.
Where the money goes
Whatever the site sells for, the Isle of Wight council can retain £400,000 but the rest of the money would have to go back to the Department for Education.
It would be as partial reimbursement of the funding government provided to refurbish the former All Saints primary school in Freshwater, which is where the Yarmouth school has moved to.
Planning restriction
The Yarmouth building still has a planning use restricting it to an education facility, art gallery, museum, exhibition hall or as a religious building.
To do anything else would require a planning application to change the approved use.
Asset of community value
The primary school site is an asset of community value after Yarmouth Town Council (YTC) made a successful application to the Isle of Wight council.
YTC had made it known it would like to be treated as a potential bidder for the site and have, according to the Isle of Wight council’s website, until July 25 to determine if they can raise the finances to purchase the site.
Working party
The town council has set up a working party to help keep the building in community use and has plans involving affordable housing; a new Scout hut; an exhibition / educational museum; and a new facility for traditional boat building which will train apprentices.working party to help keep the building in community
Interested parties should contact Hose Rhodes Dickson and are asked not to approach the school directly.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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