The go-ahead has been given to sell the site of a former Isle of Wight middle school so houses can be built, including more than 30 affordable ones.
A decision was made yesterday (Wednesday) by Councillor Ian Stephens, the Isle of Wight council’s cabinet member for finance and housing, to sell the land of the former Sandham Middle School.
Highest bidder for the land
The authority will accept the offer from developer, National Pride, which was the highest bidder for the land and has proposed to build 74 houses, subject to planning permission.
How much the site is being sold for is currently confidential, as the council says it is commercially sensitive.
Proceeds reinvested into nearby sport or education facilities
Money from the sale would be reinvested into nearby sport or education facilities in projects agreed by the Department for Education.
The government’s education body also has to agree to the site’s sale, if the future of the land is not for educational purposes.
It had also been used for a time by Sandown Bay Academy, after the middle school closed.
Benefits of the sale
According to the council’s decision sheet, the benefits from the sale, the authority believe, will include much-needed housing and a considerable investment in the Island’s school estate.
To secure the site, National Pride told the council it would build 74 houses, 37 of them being affordable.
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
