Following a public tender exercise, Bedford College is in
discussions with The Bedford
Charity (Harpur Trust) regarding the Bedford High School
buildings on Bromham Road that become vacant from September
2012.
Bedford College is currently the preferred
bidder to lease the main school buildings, Trinity Church and the
Sports and Performing Arts (SPA) complex for the next ten
years.
Final details of the lease agreement are
subject to on-going negotiation but the College hopes it will be in
a position to use the buildings for lessons from September 2012.
The lease will not include buildings in the neighbouring Adelaide
Square or The Crescent and the future of these buildings is still
being considered by Savills on behalf of the Charity. The
College plans to use the buildings for its more classroom based
activities and continue to operate the SPA facilities that will
allow existing clients to continue with their classes and club
activities.
Ian Pryce CBE, Principal and Chief Executive
of Outstanding Ofsted Bedford College said: “We are delighted
to be regarded as the preferred bidder. Our intention is
to maintain the educational buildings for that purpose and to
preserve local education history. Our Cauldwell Street campus
will become an advanced technology centre with our more
classroom-based activity moving to the High School buildings. In
the last fortnight the College has won a major bid to quadruple its
full-time Higher Education (degree level learning) numbers and
we need to accommodate that growth. The High School building
is a perfect environment for such work. We are working
hard to ensure we open for students in September 2012 to ensure
continuity in the use of the site.”
Commenting on the plans, David Russell, Chief
Executive of the Harpur Trust, said “The opportunity to work with
the College to expand and develop the educational opportunities and
facilities for young people in Bedford is an exciting prospect;
they need the space and we have the buildings so a ten year lease
offers us both an ideal solution. In addition we are working
with the College to ensure that the Sports and Performing Arts
complex that includes a pool, sports hall and theatre, remains open
and can continue to be enjoyed by the many local groups and
individuals that use the facilities on a regular basis.”
The Harpur Trust and the College hope that
negotiations on the lease will be complete by Easter.
The Bedford High School for Girls buildings
become vacant by the end of August when the School finally shuts
its doors as the final stage of the merger with Dame Alice Harpur
School completes to form Bedford Girls’ Schools on Cardington
Road.