A FORMER art gallery has been sold more than £1million with developers set to transform it into “high quality flats”.

The Beecroft Art Gallery, in Westcliff, has been sold for a “considerable sum over and above the guide price”, with the new owners promising to maintain the character of the building as it is converted.

The site was advertised for refurbishment or conversion in October with a guide price of £1 million by Dedman Gray.

Now, it has been sold with the buyers planning to refurbish rather than destroy the characteristic building.

It is unclear at this stage exactly how much the building was sold for, or who the buyers are.

Mike Gray, managing director of Dedman Gary who sold the gallery, said: “The property was offered on the market with a guide price of £1 million, which attracted a great deal of interest, with over two dozen separate viewing within a few weeks of going onto the market.

“Enquiries were received from a wide range of different ideas, with applicants thinking of refurbishing the existing building to its former glory, or some considering a new development project and other thinking about various commercial uses for the building in the future.

“After a great deal of consideration, it was considered that the preferred way forward is for the building to be refurbished to a high standard rather than a new build, but to retain the character of the many features.”

In 2018, the Neobard Burnson Architects were appointed to transform the art gallery into a complex of artist studios, however work never got started and the funding for the development was handed back.

The Edwardian building is known for its characteristic features but the gallery was closed and relocated in 2014.

Mr Gray is pleased the successful bidder will be keeping the features of the Edwardian building.

He added: “We understand the successful bidder, who paid considerable sum over and above the guide price, is intending to undertake a high-quality refurbishment program. With the refurbish programme, they are thinking about retaining the investment and renting out for future years, with a smaller number but higher quality number of flats. They are fully aware of the character of the building which they would like to keep within the refurbishment.”