147-year-old school back on the market after deal with Chinese buyer falls through
A 147-year-old former independent preparatory and secondary school in Staffordshire is back on the market, with investment and development offers being invited for the estate.
A deal which would have maintained educational use of Abbots Bromley School, which has been closed since August 2019, had originally been reached in January 2020 following a global marketing campaign to find a buyer who would provide education on the site.
But the prospective Chinese-backed educational buyer failed to complete the contract by the extended deadline of January 2021, citing practical issues relating to Covid-19.
The 60 acre estate close to Lichfield, formerly known as the School of St Mary and St Anne, was first established in 1874 and comprises 17 principal buildings, some of which are Grade II listed.
The estate also includes an equine centre, tennis courts, playing fields, a hockey pitch and some agricultural land. Abbots Bromley was the first girls’ school for The Woodard Corporation.
Barry Allen, director in Savills’ Midlands development team, who is handling the sale, said: “The availability of the property at Abbots Bromley School presents an exciting development opportunity to shape its ongoing legacy. The school and its site are at the heart village, allowing it to support a range of potential future uses.
“The preference had always been for the site to be sold for educational use but unfortunately the previously agreed sale was not completed and so the trustees of the charity are duty bound to pursue an alternative sale.
“We remain in regular dialogue with both the District and Parish Councils given the heritage of the site. As we experienced when this property was originally brought to the market over 12 months ago, we are anticipating a great deal of interest in this site.”
