A FORMER Isle of Wight school looks set to be sold for £825,000 and knocked down to make way for 50 new homes.
West Wight Middle School, at Queens Road, Freshwater, will be sold to Spectrum Premier Homes by landowner the Isle of Wight Council.
The decision to sell the site will be made under delegated powers by economy cabinet member, Cllr George Brown. A decision cannot be taken before Match 19.
Planning permission was granted last month (February) to demolish the school buildings and redevelop the site with two and three bedroom houses, garden areas and parking for 100 cars.
Spectrum approached the council before the site was marketed, offering to provide 35 affordable housing units — equal to 69 per cent of the residential development — and was subsequently treated as a special purchaser.
Although the playing fields to the east of the school will not be built on, a greenfield area to the south will be included in the development. Spectrum has offered a Section 106 contribution of £14,500 to fund sports facilities in the area.
A so-called 'ransom payment' of £45,000 has been made by the council to Freshwater Parish Council, to carry out highways works on a strip of land it owns, which runs next to Queens Road.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk