Holt Hall sale to Gresham's completed and price tag revealed

Norfolk County Council has confirmed Gresham's School has bought the north Norfolk Grade II-listed Victorian property for £4.25m.

Council leaders said the cash will go into County Hall's coffers for capital projects, such as building new schools for children with special educational needs.

But opposition councillors slammed the loss of public ownership of what they described as an "important asset".

Greg Peck, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for commercial services and asset management. Pic: Norfolk Conservatives (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Greg Peck, the Conservative-controlled cabinet member for commercial services and asset management, said: "Gresham’s are a major local employer and as a school they enhance the vitality of our education sector within Norfolk.

"The sale will bring a number of learning opportunities for both their pupils and young people across the county.

“The team has carried out a thorough and well-managed sale process and I am pleased to have achieved a sale price of £4.25m, which will help fund the county council’s capital programme – for example the provision of new SEND schools across the county."

Generations of Norfolk schoolchildren went to Holt Hall. Pic: Newsquest (Image: Archant Library)

Over 70 years, generations of schoolchildren used Holt Hall and its 86 acres of land for outdoor learning and residential trips.

But the council decided to sell it, saying the site was running at a £270,000 loss and needed £600,000 in maintenance to continue operating.

Labour county councillor Mike Smith-Clare. Pic: Labour Party (Image: Labour Party)

And Labour county councillor Mike Smith-Clare said: "What a crying shame that this current administration has profiteered from the sale of Holt Hall to Gresham’s school.

"To remove an accessible community-wide educational resource beggars belief - more importantly, it reiterates where their true misplaced loyalties lie."

Schoolchildren at Holt Hall. Pic: Newsquest (Image: Archant Library)

Mr Smith-Clare said he hoped the money generated by the sale would go back into outdoor learning opportunities, but added: "I’m not holding my breath."