Former Powys primary school that shut 9 years ago for sale

The sale of Rhosgoch County Primary School, which closed in June 2014, is by informal tender.

The site, located on the edge of the village of Rhosgoch, between Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye, extends to approximately 1.94 acres and comprises of playing fields, school buildings, parking and sports court.

The site has redevelopment potential, however, all planning inquiries must be made by potential purchasers.

The former school building is considered modern internally, comprising of three large classrooms with uPVC windows looking over the front of the property; a hallway providing access to all other rooms in the school; girls and boys toilets with three (girls) and two (boys) cubicles and three hand basins that face the rear of the property; a small staff kitchen with uPVC doors to the front of the property, large windows, wooden flooring and access to a store room and kitchen; the kitchen has a canteen hatch which was previously used to serve food. The kitchen has windows to the rear and access to a store room.

Outside, at the front of the property, a large tarmac parking area can be found next to a sports court and grass play area, following around to the side of the property a large grass play area can be found with playing fields to the rear.

The school’s future was the subject of much debate in June 2013, when a formal decision to close it due to dwindling pupil numbers was rejected by the Welsh Government.

Powys County Council had intended closing the 15-pupil school at the end of the summer term in July, with pupils transferring to Clyro Church in Wales Primary School, which reopened in 2018 following an extensive rebuild.

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But in what turned out to be one of his last decisions as education minister, before he was forced to resign, Leighton Andrews told the council flaws in its consultation process meant he was rejecting the closure bid.

The local authority received a petition signed by 128 people opposing the plans and 36 letters were received during a public consultation, raising concerns about problems with larger class sizes and increased travel times to school.

In a letter to Powys County Council, Mr Andrews said that while there was “sound educational merit” for the closure proposal, he could not let it go ahead because of problems with the consultation and subsequent information given to parents.

Despite the reprieve, Rhosgoch County Primary School did close the following summer. It was one of five threatened with closure in the Gwernyfed catchment area as part of plans to reduce surplus school places and reduce costs.

The council said Rhosgoch, along with nearby Ffynnongynydd, Glasbury, Llanigon and Bronllys, were the smallest in the area, with between 18 and 24 pupils on their school roll in January 2012.

Rhosgoch did have room for 59 pupils aged 4 to 11, along with 8 full-time nursery places, but in January 2012 it had 16 school pupils and one nursery pupil.

The sale is being organised by agents McCartneys, with a guide price of £150,000. The property is offered for sale by informal tender, which are to be received in writing at the agent's office no later than midday on Friday, June 23.

Envelopes containing tenders are to be marked ‘Private and Confidential’ and ‘Tender for Rhosgoch School’, to be delivered to McCartneys LILP, 11 High Town, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5AE.

For more information and to download an informal tender form, visit https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133903769#/?channel=RES_BUY.