Businessmen buy their former grade II-listed school out of administration

BUSINESSMEN Jamie and Jonathan Seddon, of construction group Seddon Developments, have bought their former school in Cross Hills out of administration.

The brothers, who had attended the North Yorkshire school in the 1980s, wanted to buy the school after hearing of its disused state this year, and did so after negotiations with administrators EY.

Founded in 1920, Malsis School closed in 2014 due to falling pupil numbers and a failed merger with nearby Giggleswick School in Settle.

EY joint administrators of Malsis School Trust, Charles King and Hunter Kelly, sold the land and buildings to Seddon Developments Ltd, part of the family-run Seddon Solutions group, which was founded in 1897 by a pair of bricklayers in Manchester.

The 1.39 million sq ft site includes a grade II-listed former country estate, including the main hall of the former school, a chapel, gatehouse and a number of other buildings.

Craven District Council has been brought into talks about fast-tracking plans for the site, and the Seddon brothers are keen to work with the community as it moves the development forward.

Jamie Seddon, managing director of Seddon Developments, said: “I have many happy memories of going to Malsis and was incredibly sad when I heard it had closed its doors last year.

“I hope that together with the council and the community we can find a viable use for the school and the grounds and work together to bring this building back to life, creating a number of local employment opportunities along the way.”

Charles King, executive director at EY and joint administrator of Malsis School Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have secured the sale of the land and buildings to Seddon Solutions. The funds from the sale should enable a substantial dividend to be paid to the creditors of the school, including former teaching staff.”

Eddisons Commercial Property acted as the agents.