By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
A Grade II-listed former school in Bramley could fetch £450,000 after being put up for sale by the council.
The Hough Lane Centre is being auctioned to help Leeds City Council plug a multi-million pound budget gap.
The building was deemed surplus to requirements by the authority after previously being used as offices.
Pugh Auctions is advertising the property with a guide price of over £450,000.
The company said on its website: “The property is located in a predominantly residential area of Leeds and features car parking and good road access.
“We believe the property may represent an opportunity for redevelopment or change-of-use, subject to any necessary consents.”
The council previously said it would be too expensive to maintain the building. Disposing off it would save cash and create jobs if it was turned into apartments.
A council report said: “Hough Lane Centre is Grade II-listed and so will be costly to keep in a state of good repair. It is also a very large site which requires a lot of energy consumption to keep in occupation.”
Pugh Auctions said the building was close to schools, Bramley Park and Bramley Community Hub.
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Imagine what they’d have got by selling Hough Top Court, rather than overpaying 22.4 million they don’t have, to build council housing on it?
Leeds city council compulsory purchased my family farm in the late 1940’s, Hough Top Farm, Hough Top, Leeds.
They never used half of the land was disgraceful.
Seems a little shallow for a grade 2 listed building.
Leeds City Council’s balance book may be better of if they tried selling off these assets for more money- they always seem to sell our public buildings off for below-market rates.
Most folk have no problem with derlict buildings being turned into houses, commercial businesses, private businesses, museums, charities, care homes or soylent green for all most voters pay attentiom for.
Though private developers /landlords will make significantly more money long term than the £450K our ryte ‘onrable LCC is presuming to sell it for.
The council if they were extra business savy/ fiscally responsible needs to sell off public assets for more money, to reflect the long term profitability of such ventures for redevelopment, rather than an approach which seems closer to auctioning off public goods at a kinda low starting price. Im sure our glorious Labour Council knows what they’re doing though, but im no rocket scientist and i barely pay attention to the news or current affairs.