Moore Development Management is pleased to announce the sale of St Michael's College, Tenbury Wells.

The former private school includes a striking Grade II* listed building used as a location for the 1986 TV film The Worst Witch starring screen legends Diana Rigg and Tim Curry. There are then 13 other buildings at the campus including a former sports hall, boarding houses, and educational blocks, all set within 22.76 acres.

It was sold in August 2024 to a newly-formed company backed by an American-Chinese private educational institution Sias University. The new owners intend to refurbish the buildings and provide secondary school and sixth form education for both UK and international students, starting in the 2025/6 academic year

Appointed in July 2023 to manage the planning and disposal of the school, Moore Development Management assembled an excellent team to prepare a change of use planning application. The team included Zesta as town planners, Fisher German LLP as sales agent and building consultants, GE Consulting as lead environmental and ecology consultant, P2 Surveyors as Energy Performance Assessors and Taylor Wessing as solicitors.

Early engagement with Tenbury Town Council, local Councillors, officers at Malvern Hills District Council and the wider stakeholder network established a framework for a change of use given the collective desire to preserve the historic buildings.

Rather unexpectedly given the trend within private education in the UK, we were approached by an overseas buyer looking to open a new school in the country. St Michael's College was identified as an excellent fit given its existing purpose-built facilities and the heritage asset that would appeal particularly to its customer base. A sale was subsequently agreed for a price reflective of its redevelopment potential.

Tom Pike, Partner at Fisher German LLP, who was the selling agent commented, "It is fantastic that the school is going to be given a new lease of life. It will be an excellent asset for Tenbury Wells and the surrounding areas, providing high-quality schooling as well as a range of employment opportunities.”

Nicholas Fry, Director of Naoo Investments Ltd, the former owner of the school said: “This marks the end of a long and happy association the Fry family have had with the college. We are very grateful for all of the support we have received from the community since my Father originally purchased the site in 1989 and we wish the new owners every success in re-establishing the school”.

David Moore of Moore Development Management concludes, "I am delighted by the outcome of this process for my client, the purchaser, the historic buildings and the wider Tenbury Wells community. Whilst we had not anticipated demand from the educational sector, it does highlight the need to keep an open mind in property, follow due process and also ensure you have a robust planning and disposal strategy in order to maximise value. I am grateful to our wider consultant team for their assistance with bringing this project to such a satisfactory conclusion."

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