Former Barclays Cheshire office to become school

Mereside Education Trust has applied to Cheshire West and Chester Council to convert a 33,000 sq ft Northwich office building into a private school.

Plans submitted by agent Woodford Land and Planning on behalf of the trust would see the vacant Osbourne Court repurposed after it became clear its days as an office were over.

For more than 20 years the office building was occupied by Barclays. The bank left the site in 2022, citing the shift to home working post-COVID. The building, which sits on a four-acre site, has remained empty since.

RVW and Canning O’Neill were appointed to market the property to either find a replacement tenant or purchaser.

A deal has been reached with OneSchool Global, Mereside Educational Trust’s parent company, to purchase the site for an undisclosed fee.

OneSchoolGlobal already operates a school in Hartford but enhancing the teaching space has been challenging due to the building’s listed status.

The Gadbrook site is ideal for relocation as it remains in the same catchment area for pupils.

Currently, Mereside Educational Trust’s school employs more than 45 staff with the school expecting this number to rise upon moving to a new site.

The trust’s new Northwich home would feature a reception area and a staff room on the ground floor.

A canteen and kitchen would be found on the west side of the building, adjacent to a central internal courtyard and outdoor learning space.

The building’s east side would host the learning centres with junior pupils on the ground floor and seniors on the first floor. The learning rooms would contain art studios, a science lab, and a design centre.

A multi-purpose hall would be located at the rear of the building’s ground floor.

The application highlights a growing trend in office-to-education changes of use, in November Arden University moved to expand its Spinningfields base taking on an additional 12,600 sq ft on the fourth floor of 2 Hardman Street.

A spokesperson for OneSchool Global said: “We have an innovative approach to teaching and learning, with our campuses defined by their cutting-edge, technology-empowered physical and digital learning environments.

“This new campus has been designed around this approach, with the physical environment playing an important role in supporting our teachers to prepare life-ready students who learn how to learn.

“Set to open in September 2025, this new campus will replace our existing school in Northwich to create an enhanced environment with improved facilities for over 100 primary and secondary students. This new campus is also set to unlock opportunities for more teachers in the local area to embark on enriching careers with OneSchool Global.

“On completion, we look forward to welcoming our pupils and teachers into this impressive school as we continue to deliver against our mission of empowering students to reach their full potential.”

To view the change of use application, use the reference number 24/03256/FUL in Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning portal.