The Feoffees of Old Swinford Hospital are pleased to announce that terms have been agreed with the Board of BMet College to acquire the whole of the Stourbridge College land and buildings situated at Hagley Road, Stourbridge. BMET College were advised by Highgate Land and Development and the Feoffees by Avison Young.
Commenting on the agreement, Malcolm Wilcox, Chairman of the Feoffees said ‘Together with BMet College, we are delighted to announce this agreement after several months of discussions and negotiations. The acquisition by the Feoffees will allow the School of the Foundation, Old Swinford Hospital, the opportunity to expand, a development welcomed by the School’s Governors and the Headmaster Paul Kilbride. We shall also be working in partnership with Dudley Council who are supportive of our acquisition and school expansion as well as with other local stakeholders and providers to ensure the continuance of education on the Hagley Road site.’
Cliff Hall, Principal of BMet College commented ‘We are very pleased to have worked with Old Swinford Hospital to enable the Foundation to purchase the Stourbridge College land and buildings. It is important for us that this acquisition has the backing of Dudley Council and many other stakeholders in the local community. Continued use for education has been secured and we wish every success to Old Swinford Hospital and their partners in this new chapter of the development of the site.’
Councillor Pat Harley, Leader of Dudley Council commented ‘Malcolm and the team at OSH have worked extremely hard over several months to secure this deal. For our part the Council has also worked behind the scenes and supported those efforts to retain this site for educational usage enhancing the education opportunities for all our children and young people in Stourbridge. The proposals are exciting and Dudley Council will play its full part in ensuring we maximise usage of the Stourbridge site for educational means. I once again congratulate OSH for persevering with their efforts. Many people were commenting that they didn’t believe a deal such as this was possible – however they have been proved wrong and we retain this site and its facilities for educational purposes.’
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said ‘I am delighted that the sale of Stourbridge College to Old Swinford Hospital has been agreed. Since BMet’s closure of the college was announced, I have worked resolutely behind-the-scenes alongside Dudley Council and Stourbridge MP Margot James to make sure education would continue to be offered at the site. It has not been easy, but I want to thank OSH for persisting and getting the sale over the line. I wish them, and their students, every success for the future.’
Margot James, MP congratulated OSH saying ’I am pleased that the facilities at our former college will remain for the purposes of education and I am continuing to work with local colleges to ensure that part of the site is used for adult education and skills training and I am grateful to OSH for their support of this proposal’.
Old Swinford Hospital
30th October 2019