What Next for Kevicc Lower Field?

After many years, the decision has been made – King Edward VI Community College CAN sell off land to fund its updating plans.

The momentous decision came out quietly on the Government website.
Here it is in a list of approved applications:

Education South West      February   2025
King Edward  VI Community  College
Application by Education South West (trust) to dispose of playing field land and non-playing field land at the school.
This is to rationalise its large site and make it more manageable whilst retaining sufficient playing field for any future expansion.

The trust intends to consolidate the existing main site to the west of the road, leaving good quality playing fields, including the existing multi use games area, to the east of the road.

The proceeds of sale of all of the land will be used to update facilities, including sports facilities, at the school.

 

The town council – perplexed that the decision was not communicated to it directly – is now going to write to Education South West – the academy which runs the school among several others – to ask for a confirmation that proceeds from the sale will be ring fenced for the Totnes site only.

When the Pulse contacted ESW in early May it seems it was also not aware that the long awaited decision had been made. Matthew Shanks, who heads ESW, said : “As soon as we hear anything from the DfE we will let you know. So far we have not.”

MP Caroline Voaden, who the Pulse asked for comment, was also unaware last week that the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had made up her mind. Ms Voaden said: “Part of the land, including the Elmhirst site, had been set aside for Devon County Council for the relocation of River Dart Academy. However, it now transpires that it is unlikely that River Dart Academy will relocate to this land, so discussions are ongoing between the Secretary of State and Education South West.”
She continued; “I’m sure you will be aware that back in 2022, I spoke strongly in favour of allowing Elmhirst to be used for the good of the local community rather than selling the land to the highest bidder for it to become a supermarket or housing estate. If they are given permission to sell, I hope the school governors will recognise the site’s true value, not just monetary but as a green space for the community to use. This must carefully be weighed up against the need to ensure a good price is secured, which will provide much needed funds for the school.”

Town clerk Catherine Marlton told the Pulse on Thursday, at the annual public meeting, that it wasn’t yet known which land is to be sold, or what the status might be of the 2022 bid from the council to buy some of the land to keep for public use. It may be the so-called Sheep Field site or the old lower school building Elmhirst.

As the Pulse reported back in September,
“In April 2022 Totnes Town Council offered £2.5 million for the lower field and the building. Soon after that, the Dart Valley Learning Trust put it on the open market. The sale was being handled by Torbay Council’s development arm, TDA Group.”
(See full article here)

ESW took over from the DVLT in 2022. At that time the lower field was one of several parcels being offered for sale by the school to fund much needed refurbishment of the “big school” over the road. With cash from Government unlikely, the school said it needed £2 million just to maintain buildings and was hoping for £7 million from the sale of 14 acres of land.

So who will buy what bit of land and at what price?  Will it be for houses, a supermarket, a hotel – all have been speculated.

The community college has also just ended consultation over its plan for an SEN unit to be set up at the Kennicott site which lies above the main school. Twenty places for children with Autistic Spectrum Condition will be created by refurbishing the former art foundation block at Kennicott, paid for by Devon County Council.

It seems unlikely then that the Kennicott site is going to be sold off.

 

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