School puts former boarding house up for sale after failed conversion plans

The governors of King’s Ely have put an historic home up for sale – just months after an unsuccessful attempt to get planning permission to build in the property’s back garden.

The three-storey Victorian home, in St Mary’s Street, is on the market for £900,000. The selling agents, Cheffins, said the property had “enormous potential for those seeking a truly special city home.”

The garden extends to approximately a third of an acre which the school had hoped to develop.

An initial plan for two three-bedroom houses attracted objections from neighbours, the City of Ely Council, Ely Society, ward district councillors Richard Hobbs and Lis Every and the district council’s conservation and trees officers.

The site, near to Ely Cathedral, is of special archaeological interest and Cambridgeshire County Council officers said an archaeological survey would be required before any building were to take place.

The “inappropriate” development would detract from the overall character of the conservation area and would affect the amenities of neighbouring residents, said objectors.

A revised plan for one three-bedroom one-and-a-half storey home attracted similar objections including one from the GP partners at St Mary’s Surgery next door.

The house was latterly boarding accommodation for some of the school’s international girl students and before that was the home of the deputy head.

Following its acquisition of the Old Bishop’s Palace, King’s says the property is surplus to its requirements.