A leading estate agent in Hadleigh is confident a 200-year-old building in Hadleigh town centre will soon be sold.

Robert Chapman, of the eponymous Chapman and Stickles estate agents based in Hadleigh's Market Place, has also reassured residents the Partridges building in the High Street will be keeping its beautiful face.

While the freehold of the Grade II listed building is on the market for £2.25million, it is anticipated the Partridges store will be retained in some form, especially as the building's owners, Cosford Property Ltd, also own the shop business.

Cosford have permission to build 14 one and two bedroom apartments in the three-storeys, but the ground floor will be used for retail outlets.

Partridges began as an ironmongers in 1823 and has built its reputation as a one-stop shop for everything from a light bulb, or tea pots to mowers.

Mr Chapman would not get drawn into the future of Partridges in its current form as a sprawling hardware store but while he can envisage some changes, he believes whoever takes on the development will want to retain its heart.

"We are selling the bricks and mortar so it is not in our gift to determine Partridges' future," said Mr Chapman. "Everyone wants it to remain open.

"Partridges is synonymous with the history of the town. It is the very fabric of the town and it would be a brave man to not want it kept.

"But you look at it in reality, it is unsustainable with the size it currently is. It is a massive building.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to regenerate the centre of Hadleigh, which can only be good thing."

Future use

Plans for the building include demolishing the more modern section of the building and the storage area, which will be replaced by offices and food outlets, although nothing definitive has been agreed about what exactly will be put in. "There are also small retail units in the current plan," said Mr Chapman. "However, someone could choose to keep it as it is or keep part of it and demolish some of it. "The consent is there for someone if they want use it, but they could come back and ask something else. "It is an attractive plan and it would enhance the town, no doubt about that." The proposed layout will create a new public thoroughfare named 'Partridges Walk' which will essentially extend the central hub to the town from George Street.

Interest piqued

Previously on the market for £3.4m, the new price of £2.25 is seeing renewed interest being piqued.

"The interest in the property is good," said Mr Chapman. "It was on the market before for a lot more money, which was too much. It is now at much more realistic figure.

"It came down because it was too much and also price build costs have gone up so much and that has to be reflected.

"We do have a number of people who have contacted us. Some have looked in the past and walked away but have now come back.

"It is not the sort of thing you are going to sell overnight because there there will be a lot of number crunching involved.

"The consent in place is good but there is no guarantee that is what will be the final plan."

Seller's joy

Chapman Stickels has built a reputation as on of the top estate agents in south Suffolk, north Essex and the Shotley peninsula, as well as the Hadleigh area, and Mr Chapman relishes the challenge of fading buyer for Partridges building. "It is an absolute joy being the agent," he said. "It is such an iconic building so it is really different and interesting. It is all things to all people it means so much to so many people looking at it from different angles. "It is important to emphasise the front part of the building all not change, it cannot change. The facade onto the High Street and return down the alley will stay the same on the outside because it cannot be anything other. "That is great news for the town."

Hadleigh's old-fashioned values

While the High Street building has an interesting internal make up with a lot of timber in the roof and as an old building it has its own quirks and defects but the feeling is it is sound structurally, although no survey has yet been conducted.

Once redeveloped, Mr Chapman is confident the change will complete the town and its core values.

"This will take the town centre on another stage," he said. "We have lost the tow banks but there are not too many gaps on the High Street.

"People like Hadleigh because it is easy to park, there is a good variety of shops, you can get a nice lunch, cup of tea or something.

"It is one of those town that you can walk down the street and there is always some one who will say hello and have a chat too.

"It is like going back 30 or 40 years it still has that feel to it and it has not been spoilt.

"The opportunity to create these homes and retail units can only be a good thing."

Challenge

While enjoying the challenge, Mr Chapman has more than 30 years experience in the estate agent business and has a fail safe method of success. "It is about dealing with people," said Mr Chapman. "Whether it is a 20 bedroom flat or a socking great mansion in 20 acres, the principles are the same. Of course, each property has different aspects and different hoops to be jumped through but ultimately it is about dealing with people." "I can see them being popular because there are more people who want to live in the area than there are are properties." To arrange a visit or for more details get in touch with Mr Chapman on 01473 372 372 or email [email protected]. Visit the Chapman Stickels website here... To see more properties on sale in the Hadleigh area go to the town's Nub News Property Section here...