POPHAM Court – made up of Popham House and The Court – in Courtland Road, Wellington, is up for sale, writes Barry Knott.

Estate agents Greenslade Taylor Hunt is marketing the two-and-a-half acre site for £750,000.

The buildings are owned by cash-strapped Somerset County Council which rented them to Somerset Care until November when both homes were closed with the loss of 98 full- and part-time staff. All 53 residents have since been rehoused.

Somerset Care said at the time that Popham Court needed substantial investment to meet the needs of residents. It was said to have been losing money for years.

After seeking expert advice and looking carefully at the market and costs of development, it was unable to make a viable business case to rebuild Popham Court.

It was rumoured that Wellington School might be interested in the site for boarders but the school has dismissed this.

n Somerset Care is a not-for-profit company without shareholders. Any surplus it ploughs back into the business for the benefit ‘of our customers and staff’.

Popham Court closed in November.