Former school site to be sold at auction

A derelict former school is set to be auctioned off with a guide price of around £100,000.

The old High Well School building, in South Hiendley, near Wakefield, has been vacant for more than a decade after pupils were relocated to a new site in Pontefract.

The site, which includes the school building and surrounding land, is being marketed by BTG Eddisons Property Auctions and is set to go under the hammer on 26 August.

A description of the site said it had "excellent transport links" and could be suitable for a future housing development.

The company's website stated: "Situated on the edge of the village of Felkirk, the site enjoys an attractive semi-rural setting while remaining conveniently connected to nearby settlements.

"The combination of its substantial size, established access, predominantly level topography and evident redevelopment potential makes this an excellent opportunity for developers, investors and promoters seeking a strategic landholding with medium to long-term planning prospects."

The building, previously known as Felkirk School, has been empty since August 2015 when its special educational needs pupils were relocated from South Hiendley to Rookhill Road in Pontefract.

In March, Wakefield Council's audit committee heard the local authority was expecting to receive around £20m from the sale of public land and property during the current financial year as part of efforts to downsize its estate portfolio due to financial pressures, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.