About this property
Opportunity to purchase the former Sandham Middle School Site, potentially suitable for residential development of circa 60 dwellings based on current planning guidance, subject to planning permission.
Location
The town of Sandown is a popular seaside resort which is famed for its long stretches of golden sandy beach and the traditional British seafront and pier. Sandown also has a great selection of attractions, including a Zoo housed in an old fort and a purpose-built interactive Dinosaur Museum. It also offers other amenities such as dental surgeries, health centres, boutique stores and leisure facilities. Sandown is within a short drive to other popular towns of the Island, with Shanklin being approximately 4 miles, Ryde approximately 7 miles and Newport approximately 9 miles away. The Sandown to Newport cycle path runs just north of the site. Located off The Fairway / Golf Links Road, the site is adjacent to The Bay C of E Secondary School and a low-rise residential development. The site is on a bus route and is in close proximity to schools, leisure facilities and The Bay Community Health Club.
Description
Offered for sale is the former Sandham Middle School site, a ‘brownfield’ site, accessed by Perowne Way and Golf Links Road.
The developable site area boasts an acreage of approximately 5.9 acres. The IWC intends to retain the school playing field land (edged blue on the plan) north of the site and the council is currently in negotiations to grant a lease to a sports club.
The site comprises a mixture of rough grass and areas of hard standing ground including the multi-use games area.
It is understood that the site has a low flood risk as it falls within Zone 1 on the Flood Risk Map for planning. The adjoining playing field is within Flood Zone 2 & 3. To our knowledge, no ground investigations have been undertaken, nor are topographical surveys available.
The site is subject to department for education consent to dispose as non-education land. A key requirement of obtaining this consent is that maximum open market value is achieved. The application has been submitted.
A marketing pack is available upon request.
Services
To our knowledge, all mains’ services are available to the site, although interested parties should make their own enquiries.
Planning
There are no current planning applications or existing permissions for the redevelopment of this site, excluding the demolition of the former school buildings.
Terms
The site is available freehold or leasehold.
The council would be interested to receive bids of more than 35% affordable housing however, due to the need for Department for Education consent to dispose any bids below open market value will require IWC to fund the difference which may not be approved. Accordingly, IWC is inviting bids on all bases and once bids are received a decision will be made.
Deliverability of housing as soon as possible is key to the IWC regeneration aspirations. Therefore, bidders are requested to submit details with their proposals as to how the council can be satisfied that purchasers will build out their proposals in a timely fashion.
Given the council’s identified priority of climate change, bidders should also demonstrate how their bids will help meet the net zero ambitions both through demolition, construction and whole life future use.
Deliverability of housing as soon as possible is key to the IWC regeneration aspirations. Therefore, bidders are requested to submit details with their proposals as to how the council can be satisfied that purchasers will build out their proposals in a timely fashion.
If proposals received are not sufficiently robust the IWC may offer the freehold disposal via an initial building lease with the freehold interest to transfer to the purchaser for £1 on completion of the agreed development. Terms to be negotiated.
IWC is not required to accept any particular offer for the site.
Viewings
The majority of the site is visible from the public domain but access to the site is by appointment only. Please contact HRD Commercial on 01983 527727.
