A FORMER Dudley school could be redeveloped into apartments after the building was sold for £405,000 at a leading property auction.

The Claughton Centre on Blowers Green Road, formerly the Sir Gilbert Claughton School, sold for £405,000 at SDL Auctions Bigwood at Villa Park, beating the guide price of £200,000.

The sale marks the next step in bringing new homes to the site, as a planning application has already been granted to convert the Edwardian building into 21 apartments.

Auctioneer Rory Daly described the lot as 'the perfect auction property'.

He added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to do something special and leave a lasting legacy for the area. I look forward to seeing how the site is developed.”

The sale was welcomed by Councillor Shaukat Ali, who represents St Thomas' Ward.

He said the sale and conversion will lead to 'much-needed' accommodation in the town and that he hopes the housing will be 'affordable so that local people can make use of it'.

He added: "I hope the development can kickstart the regeneration of the surrounding area."

The school opened at the site in 1904 as the Dudley Upper Standard School, before becoming the Sir Gilbert Claughton School in 1957.

It closed in 1990 and was then used as offices by Dudley Council, before being left vacant.