Newton Rigg College’s campus has been sold for an undisclosed sum.
A senior figure from Savills, which marketed the site and Sewborwens Farm on behalf of Yorkshire-based Askham Bryan College. confirmed that both properties have been snapped up.
It is not known who has bought the sites, although the names of a number of prominent local figures and firms – including Omega Proteins – have been linked to a possible purchase.
The sale comes after Askham Bryan took the controversial decision to cease operating the long-established Cumbrian college, having announced that it was no longer financially viable to operate.
The campus, near Penrith, was described by the estate agents as an excellent redevelopment opportunity, being more than 57 acres and including sports facilities, teaching spaces, car parks and offices.
The 529-acre Sewborwens Farm includes a traditional farmhouse with two bedrooms and an adjoining three-bedroom annex as well as a pair of two-bedroom cottages. It has a state-of-the-art dairy for 300 cows.
Sewborwens Farm was on the market with a guide price of £5.5 million, although the selling price has not been disclosed.
The future of the properties, and whether they will continue to play any part in Cumbrian land-based education is not yet known, with those believed to be closest to future developments declining to comment.
A spokeswoman for Newton Rigg Ltd, a community organisation fighting to preserve Newton Rigg as an educational site, said she could not offer a comment at this time.
A spokesman for Omega Proteins declined to comment about the sale.
