Nestlings Care has leased a 20-bedroom residential block building providing accommodation over two floors, which was built in 2008 offering lodging for the children from an adjacent former boys SEN school in Congleton, rural Cheshire.

Nestlings Care is an independent group registered with the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted to provide specialist therapeutic, residential placements for young people and young adults with mental health difficulties.

The former school was previously owned by Manchester City Council and first opened in 1954 catering for children with SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) and SLD (Severe Learning Difficulty), going on to close its doors in 2017.

Business property advisor Christie & Co facilitated the sale.

Sofia Beck, director, childcare and education at Christie & Co, said: “This lease opportunity generated a high level of interest from a range of specialist childcare and care operators. We continue to see increasing demand for vacant premises from SEN providers which is being driven by the rising number of placements required across the country. School sites, in particular, are highly sought after – some areas across the country are more popular than others – and fees are based on the individual child’s needs plus education. There is an ever-increasing urgent need for education to sit alongside the care package and, of course, securing premises that fit the criteria is crucial.”