Eastbourne College has put St Andrew’s School site on the market – will this change the face of Meads?

IT probably shouldn’t have been a shock – but news broke on Tuesday morning that Eastbourne College has put the huge site where St Andrew’s Prep is situated on the market.

First, the background and context.

In May, St Andrew’s Prep and Eastbourne College unveiled plans to relocate St Andrew’s Prep to a new purpose-built home within the Eastbourne College campus by 2029. 

Since coming together as a single charity, Eastbourne College Incorporated (ECi), in 2010, the two schools have created an increasingly connected educational journey for their pupils.

Next year marks a major milestone, with Eastbourne College celebrating its 160th anniversary and St Andrew’s Prep its 150th.

It’s no secret that private schools are facing tough times with the Labour government making private school fees eligible for VAT. That has hit many hard.

So, what’s the reality?

Eastbourne College has appointed property consultants Vail Williams to market the 11.6-acre site in Meads.

There are two main options.

1.  A 65-bed care home and 105 homes – 36 flats in converted buildings, 25 new flats, and 44 new houses – while retaining the existing Victorian and Edwardian structures.

2. 151 homes – 36 flats in conversions, 69 new flats in three blocks, and 46 new houses. No care home.

Both options include a community building, gardens, and play areas

What has the reaction been?

It’s worth repeating that this news was inevitable – selling the site was always going to happen.

Here’s some of the online reaction:

Nick: “Both options would radically change Meads.”

Catherine: “Will the green space and cricket pitch be open to the public – and what about the swimming pool?”

Michael: “Best of luck making that work on the open market at the moment.”

Chez: “Meads, certainly won’t be Meads as we all know and love if any of this goes ahead.”

To conclude, there is huge pressure here on management at Eastbourne College to manage this process in a clear and swift manner – and for the benefit of Eastbourne as a whole.

We will all be watching…

Opinion by Editor Peter Lindsey 

IMAGES: Other for sale in St Andrews Prep School, Meads Street, Eastbourne, BN20 7RP