School and industrial development put up for sale

4 hours ago

Nadia Lincoln

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Southfield School in Brackley, Northamptonshire, shut in July 2024

Laura Coffey/BBC The outside of a school, showing a brick wall, with signs above it, railings, a car park to the left, with bins in it, and bushes and trees in the distance. There is a brick building to the right. — Southfield School in Brackley, Northamptonshire, shut in July 2024

A former school and an industrial development are to be sold to generate income for a council.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) hopes the sales of the now closed Southfield Primary School, in Brackley, and the industrial site in Heartlands, Daventry, could generate income of about £500,000.

Two public open spaces are due to be transferred to Crick Parish Council for £1 each, as it is felt they can be better managed by the community.

It is also aiming to formalise its ownership of two pieces of land in Green Lane and Off the old A45, both in Northampton.

Members of WNC approved the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.

The change comes after the authority agreed to put the modern extension of Northampton's Guildhall up for sale.

Southfield Primary School, which closed in July 2024 due to a shortfall in pupils, could be demolished and the land used for housing.

Its existing theatre block will be kept, along with 50 car parking spaces for the community, to be used as a family hub, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

WNC said "extensive checks" were made to see if there was a viable educational use for the site, but none came forward.

'Delighted'

Brackley Conservative councillor Fiona Baker said the closure of the school had been "pretty devastating".

"The space can provide a permanent home for a 'spoke' of the family hub service, the much-loved youth club, a community larder, a stem school for Send students, along with other early health groups that currently lack a dedicated venue.

"Now is the time to invest in infrastructure for Brackley that supports the expanding community."

Regarding the sale of the open spaces, Liberal Democrat councillor Rosie Humphreys said: "Cracks Hill is known and loved by everyone in Crick.

"It's widely used by the villages and outdoor amenity for ramblers, dog walkers and families.

"The parish council has long wished to have ownership of this local landmark and will be delighted if the transfer process is approved."

WNS said solidifying its title on the Northampton land would enable it to be better managed.

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