Community hope fades in ex-school

The council in Leeds recently asked for proposals and financial bids for the former Royal Park Primary school, in Hyde Park, which hit the headlines when activists occupied the building and refused to move until they were evicted.

Two companies have now tended bids, alongside a non-monetary offer from the Royal Park Community Consortium (RPCC) which the council said was outside the terms of the tender. A report to the authority's executive board, which meets next Wednesday, recommends that the building be sold to a developer referred to as Company B in the report.

This company, which is owned by an unnamed former resident and partner who have been developing property for over 30 years, has submitted various options.

One option is to refurbish the school to provide between 33 and 35 residential and commercial units, the majority being residential flats, with business units on the ground floor and in the basement.

The report says the flats would appeal to students.

Company B also submitted a reduced offer for the building on the basis that some of the space would be used for business start-ups or community uses, which would lead to a reduction in rental income.

Both Company A and Company B have said they are amenable to letting some of the space for community purposes, although the council says there is enough community provision already in the area.

It adds: "Notwithstanding this point, it is also recognised that there would be important community empowerment and cohesion benefits if the consortium is allowed to test the development of a community facility on a more limited scale and consequently with more realistic financial targets."

Council officers have now opened discussions with each party to explore the potential for a community partnership.

Revised offers for the building have been invited on the basis of plans to lease space to the community consortium.

The consortium plan for community use of the whole building is not considered viable and would be too risky, the report adds.

Officers are advising the executive to turn down the consortium's request for a 12-month period to let them raise money needed for refurbishment.

However, the community group could be offered part of the building.

"If the RPCC is successful with fundraising and the organisational arrangements within 12 months, the internal area agreed for community use would be sub-let to them. The developer would refurbish the exterior of all the building and the commercial part of the interior in the first year and RPCC would refurbish its own internal area later.

"If the RPCC (is) not successful in fundraising etc, the space would be sold to the developer on agreed terms."

Three options for community use have been put forward – ground floor hall and basement only; ground floor hall, rear rooms and basement, and all ground floor and basement.

Last night one of the community activists with the consortium Jake England-Johns, said residents definitely did not want any more flats.

He said the consortium would be lobbying councillors to defer making a decision for six months.

He said the consortium was in the middle of its own negotiations with "pretty significant investors" but he declined to give details.

Members of the executive meet at City Hall on Wednesday March 10 at 1pm.