School’s out: Opportunities for investors

The Government’s decision to introduce VAT on private school fees has meant that many independent schools have found themselves in financial distress. With a growing number of these institutions closing their doors, many historic and architecturally significant properties are coming to market.

In Estates Gazette, Sophie explains that whilst this is a challenging time for the education sector, it also presents unique opportunities for investors and developers to repurpose these buildings for alternative uses such as residential schemes, healthcare facilities, hospitality, or commercial spaces.

Sophie highlights the practical and legal issues that must be addressed before embarking on such projects. From assessing a property’s condition and securing planning permission to navigating restrictive covenants, heritage protections and rights of access, the challenges can be significant. She also discusses the importance of considering financing, energy performance and neighbour rights, alongside careful structuring of transactions through conditional contracts or option agreements. Sophie’s analysis underlines that, while these opportunities are attractive, they require thorough due diligence and a clear understanding of the planning and legal landscape.

The full article published by Estates Gazette in September 2025 can be found here and sits behind a paywall.