Ex-school sale could raise £450k for council

The sale of a Grade II listed former school could raise nearly half a million pounds to help plug a council's funding gap.

The Leeds City Council-owned Hough Lane Centre in Bramley was also previously used as offices, but had since been deemed to be surplus to requirements by the authority.

A council report said the building's listed status meant it would be costly to keep it in a good state of repair and that the very large site used a lot of energy.

Advertising the property on its website with a guide price of £450,000-plus, Pugh Auctions said the building could be used for "redevelopment or change-of use, subject to any necessary consents".

According to the auctioneers, the building was in a predominantly residential area of Leeds and featured car parking and good road access.

“We believe the property may represent an opportunity for redevelopment or change-of-use, subject to any necessary consents," the firm stated on its website.

The building was also close to schools, Bramley Park and Bramley Library, it said.

Leeds City Council said disposing of the former school would save cash and could also create jobs if it was turned into housing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In September, the authority said it needed to make £273.7m in further savings over the next five financial years.

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