Council owned New Summerseat House, which is set within seven acres of grounds, will have a guide price of £700,000
A derelict former school which has been left empty and suffered vandalism for nearly a decade is set to be sold at auction. New Summerseat House in Ramsbottom, was last used as a pupil referral unit in 2016 but the listed building which has 7 acres of land has been vacant since then.
Bury Council, who have failed to sell the property on the private market, have suggested a guide price for £700,000. They say the buildings have significantly deteriorated and the property suffers from ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour.
There have been three attempts to sell the property via a tender process, but each time the sale has not completed. The council said that placing the property in an auction ‘is unlikely to achieve the same values as the previous informal tenders but given that completion takes place 20 working days following the auction this will provide a certainty which has been missing’.
A report to the council’s cabinet, said: “As the site is a significant site containing a listed building, we will use a national auction house rather than a regional one to promote the site to a wider range of bidders. The guide price proposed is £700,000 and a reserve price will be fixed a week before the auction.”
New Summerseat House was built in 1836 by cotton mill owner Richard Hamer. It was given listed status in 1985 and has extensive grounds. Features of the Newcombe Road property include a symmetrical rendered front, five sash windows and a wide porch with Tuscan columns.
Incidents at the site have included lead theft from the roof of the main building and break-ins by people looking to steal from the buildings. Numerous windows have also been broken.
The council previously said that although repairs have been undertaken, ‘the buildings have suffered considerable external and internal damage which would require significant expenditure to rectify’.
The council added that over a five year period it had spent £142,000 on repairs and security measures at the site.
Coun Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “The disposal of this site will bring forward the restoration of this listed building, end problems caused to local residents by the empty building attracting anti-social behaviour, and remove ongoing liabilities to the council for security and maintenance.”
Councillors are due to approve the plans at the March 5 cabinet meeting.