Collaborative working across several Savills service lines resulted in the successful sale of a former Hertfordshire boarding school – with the historic building now set for a new lease of life.
Princess Helena College, a co-educational day and boarding school in Preston, near Hitchin, shut to students in 2021.
The 80 acre site – which includes a Grade II* listed manor house, teaching block, science block and sports hall, together with ancillary buildings, stores, a pair of residential dwellings and Grade II* registered gardens – was marketed by the Cambridge Development team on behalf of registered charity United Learning.
It has now been sold for an undisclosed figure to award winning developer The Door.
With a number of potential redevelopment options and end uses, the Cambridge Development team sought advice from several in-house service lines including Education, Hotel Capital Markets, Healthcare, Rural, Country House and Estates, Heritage and Townscapes, Planning, Location Services and Residential Sales.
Director Abigail Jones, who led the sale for the Cambridge Development team, said: “The marketing strategy was carefully curated to ensure maximum exposure, whilst also managing the sensitive issues surrounding what was an important asset. Clear objectives for the disposal were also defined with United Learning from the start, which allowed for an aligned and co-ordinated approach.
“Input from our various service lines provided valuable insight into the depth of market for an opportunity of this nature and ensured United Learning benefited from a holistic approach – which included securing short term income through various onsite filming opportunities that helped to cover ongoing holding costs while the sale progressed.
“Given the nature of the sale we worked hard to balance the needs of key stakeholders and we are delighted to have successfully completed the sale on behalf of our client. We look forward to seeing how its new lease of life takes shape in the coming months.”
Princess Helena College was founded in 1820 for the daughters of Anglican clergy and officers who had served during the Napoleonic Wars. It moved from London to its site in Hertfordshire in 1935 and was one of the first academic schools for girls aged 11-18.