All Saints Church, Hoole has appointed KenneyMoore Property Consultants to market for sale the former school on Westminster Road, currently rented by the trustees of Hoole Community Development Trust (HCDT) for the Community Centre, and the adjacent schoolhouse.
The decision to sell the site follows lengthy negotiations between All Saints Church and HCDT that unfortunately failed to agree a mutually acceptable future lease for the former school. The sale provides an opportunity for HCDT to purchase, and thereby secure, the site for the future.
All Saints is deeply saddened that negotiations with HCDT regarding the lease could not be resolved but remains committed to playing its part in seeing the community in Hoole flourish.
The vicar of All Saints, The Reverend Craig Gaudion, said “When I moved to Hoole in September last year, it was clear that we had arrived in a very special community. I was very pleased to see the way in which the church seeks to support this community, particularly through the young peoples’ work, youth theatre, the café and in hosting many community activities to support after school clubs, the disadvantaged, addiction support groups and other similar activities. I would love to see the church continue and expand this work.”
All Saints is committed to making use of the proceeds of the sale to help develop this work. It is encouraging offers from organisations, including HCDT, that could enable the continuing use of all or part of the former school for community activities; or offers from charities with values closely aligned to All Saints Church.
The former school is designated as an Asset of Community Value and the Council has been notified by All Saints Church of its intention to sell the site.
All Saints Church is a registered charity and has to comply with strict legal requirements when selling the site. To comply with these requirements, the Church commissioned, and is following, specialist legal advice including obtaining a written valuation report from a qualified surveyor; advertising the sale following advice from the surveyor; and selecting a purchaser that offers the best value that can reasonably be obtained for the site. Failure to comply with the legal requirements could make the Church trustees liable to penalties.
During the sale process, HCDT continues to rent the property from All Saints.
For further information contact:
Reverend Craig Gaudion, All Saints Church: comms@allsaints.church