ESTATE agents are on the verge of striking a deal to secure the sale of Stanbrook Abbey in Callow End following a new marketing campaign.

The property has been on the market for over two years and the order of Benedictine nuns, who occupy the Victorian building, are planning to move to a new modern purpose-built monastery in Wass, North Yorkshire, early next year.

The site, home to the order for 170 years, includes 21 acres of grounds and was originally put on the market for £6 million through Andrew Grant estate agency in January 2006.

Despite several inquiries and at least one offer that was accepted, the grade II-listed property failed to sell.

The 49,000 sq ft building and grounds was re-marketed in February this year for a reduced price of £5.5 million which attracted a new group of interested parties.

Andrew Grant's commercial director Jonathan Mountford said: "We have a shortlist of people we are negotiating with and we have a preferred bidder.

"I need to confirm one or two things before we can go onto the next stage but we are as close to a sale now as we have ever been, if not closer. I am very optimistic.

"Re-marketing the property brought in a completely new set of interested parties - people who had not looked before.

"The short list of parties we are currently in negotiation with had never looked at it before. I am hopeful we will have a sale within the next three months."

Mr Mountford said Stanbrook Abbey is classed as "residential institutional" and if the sale goes through quickly it would not involve a change of use of the building. A previous offer, which would have meant a change of use of the building, failed to go through because planning issues were not resolved.

Local residents have been concerned that if the site was not sold before the nuns move, it could fall into disrepair and be targeted by vandals.

At a meeting of Powick Parish Council in March, members said they did not want to see the building left unoccupied.