MP welcomes Wentworth Woodhouse deal

MP JOHN Healey has welcomed a deal which could finally seal the sale of historic Wentworth Woodhouse.

The Advertiser exclusively revealed two weeks ago that the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) had signed a heads of terms agreement with the Newbold family, who own the crumbling mansion.

The £7 million sale is expected to go through within three months, paving the way for a £40 million restoration scheme to begin.

Mr Healey, MP for Wentworth & Dearne, said: “The sale agreement is a really good step forward, because it’s a way of securing the restoration of Wentworth Woodhouse and then the opening of the house for the wider public and wider public interest.

“It's also really good the trust has seen off overseas buyers who had no local interest and just saw it as a way of making some quick money.”

The trust appeared to be out of the running last autumn but a Hong Kong-based buyer who had offered £8 million pulled out of the purchase in November.

Exclusive: Deal agreed for sale of Wentworth Woodhouse