Group set up to save Malvern Hills College to disband

Malvern Hills Arts and Community College (MHACC) had been trying to buy the former arts college since it closed in 2021 and was put up for sale by owners WCG (Warwickshire College Group).

But it is now to be disbanded and has officially withdrawn its bid to buy the site.

It made a bid of £1.2 million earlier this year having secured funding from Malvern Hills District Council, Worcestershire County Council and local philanthropist Colin Kinnear of the Bransford Trust.

READ MORE: Malvern Hills College hanging by thread after judge lifts protection

But a deal with WCG was never reached.

The campaign group had been encouraged by a legal agreement that meant the site could only be used for education.

But in June, a judge ruled that the covenant protecting Malvern Hills College should be lifted, paving the way for the site to be potentially sold for housing.

Gemma Wiseman, a co-director of MHACC, said: “After 33 months of negotiations, in various formats, with WCG we have most reluctantly decided that the time has come for us to conclude our involvement.”

A bid to save Malvern Hills College has ended

She said MHACC was formed from two groups created with the aim of saving the college and to create “a respected regional destination and enterprise hub for the community in expressive arts, the creative industries, lifelong learning, and entrepreneurial skills”.

Gini McKay, MHACC’s other director, said: “Having undertaken substantial research and conducted various business modelling exercises we knew that we had in place a robust business plan which was critically appraised and evaluated by prospective funders.”

Tom Wells, leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We are indebted to MHACC for all their efforts to save Malvern Hills College and we completely understand the decision not to pursue the purchase of the site after almost three years.”

A spokesperson for WCG said it was still willing to sell the site at reduced market value for educational use.

They said: “WCG has engaged in many conversations with different organisations over the last two years to give the community maximum opportunity to purchase the site.

"The conditions of such a sale have not changed and were put in place simply to ensure that the corporation could fulfil its fiduciary duty.

"We sympathise with MHACC, understanding that to purchase the site they were dependent on funding from other financial backers.

“We reiterate that should the district council, county council or any of the other funders who have been involved wish to approach us, we are still willing to sell the site at reduced market value for educational use even with the covenant lifted.

"We have been entirely consistent since November 2020 on the terms of a sale and all those involved are fully aware of those terms.”