School’s historic sites up for sale
KING’S School has put its sites up for sale - but uncertainty surrounds what will happen to its historic buildings.
The 500-year-old school - which is currently split across two campuses over three sites - has planning permission to relocate to a single site in the green belt at Alderley Road, Prestbury.
And the council has given approval for 300 homes at its Fence Avenue site and 150 homes at Westminster Road, which forms part of the Cumberland Street boys campus.
But bosses have not announced any plans for the historic buildings at Cumberland Street, which includes its 300-year-old library, a 100-year-old main hall and the iconic ‘gateway of remembrance’, which was installed to commemorate the pupils who were lost during the First and Second World Wars.
And while the library is Listed as a site of special architectural and historical interest by Historic England, there is no condition to protect buildings attached to the sale.
Dr Simon Hyde, headteacher, said they are inviting ‘expressions of interest’ and that developments should ‘preserve the legacy of the school’.
He said: “Following the approval of our planning applications and the recent decision by the Secretary of State to approve our applications, the school is this week starting the marketing of its current sites.
“While there is still a long way to go to realise our ambitious plans that we have called our ‘2020 Vision’, we are working hard to find ways to deliver the new school as quickly as possible for benefit of pupils and parents.
We are currently seeking expressions of interest regarding the future use of the historic buildings on Cumberland Street, in particular those that will help us to preserve the legacy of the school within the town.
“The sites are being marketed by Savills and further information is available from their Manchester offices.”
He added that the decision on the future of the gates will depend on further discusssions with conservation officers.
Town leaders and Express readers have speculated about what the buildings could become, with a suggestion that it could become a hotel, an art gallery or an entertainment complex.
Savills estate agent has also invited developers to make offers on the Fence Avenue and Westminster Road sites.
Campaigners fought hard against the plans to build the new school and the housing developments due to the risk to the green belt and wildlife.