New nursery use for former primary school premises in Suffolk

Our property agency team is pleased to confirm the sale of a former primary school in Kennett, near Newmarket, Suffolk, to an independent nursery education provider whose business is rapidly expanding across the county.

Colourbox Montessori Schools has acquired the freehold of the former school premises and site in Kennett from where, on approval of a planning application, it is scheduled to open its latest nursery school in Suffolk in September 2027 - although it is already fielding enrolment enquiries.

BTG Eddisons was instructed as the agent on the sale of the freehold interest in the school by Cambridgeshire County Council as part of the local authority’s planned property disposals programme and on the relocation of the primary school to new premises in Kennett last year (2025).

While the final sale price is not disclosed by the agent, the premises, which sit on a 0.52 acre site, were marketed with vacant possession at a guide price of £560,000.

Colourbox Montessori Schools was established as an independent, family-run nursery education business over thirty years ago. It follows the principles of the Montessori education movement and also incorporates the Forest Schools ethos and practice in providing modern education opportunities for nursery school age children.

The new Kennett location will be the seventh Suffolk nursery for Colourbox Montessori Schools, complementing others including nearby Newmarket, Red Lodge and Bury St Edmunds.

The expansion of the Colourbox Montessori Schools business has been steered by its original founder, Susie Norman who, in speaking about the new Kennett location, said, “We had been seeking a suitable site in the locale for a number of years as it’s an area of the county that has seen extensive residential expansion during the past decade.

“In researching the demographic profile, we identified a keen appetite for our kind of nursery education offer. The response, to date, from Kennett and the surrounding area has very much validated our expansion plans.

“We see the Kennett nursery school not only as providing an opportunity for children, but also for the promotion of existing staff and to recruit new staff as we become operational.”

Director Ben Green, who led the agency in the sale of the former primary school in Kennett, added, “The primary school was established in the 19th Century and, like so many village primary schools, it’s a landmark location held in deep affection by the community.

“It’s very satisfying that it will be retained for educational use. It will surely provide a sense of community continuity - albeit with a fresh approach to and understanding of the importance of nursery education in the modern world.