Leathes Prior advises on College Merger
Leathes Prior Partners, Richard Guthrie and Lucy Whipps advised Suffolk New College on the merger with Suffolk New College to become Suffolk Rural.
Otley College has merged with Suffolk New College to become Suffolk Rural. Richard Guthrie and Lucy Whipps of Leathes Prior advised Suffolk New College on the merger which also saw Easton College merge with City College Norwich.
An agricultural college is set for a new future after changing its name during a merger with Ipswich-based Suffolk New College.
The former Otley College, first opened in 1970, has now become Suffolk Rural as of January 1.
Based nine miles outside of Ipswich, the college will continue to offer students agricultural courses ranging from animal management to horticulture, as well as plumbing, joinery and trowel trade studies.
The switch comes as the Ipswich-based college aims to reach more in need of education and training across the wider county, with a Leiston site having opened in 2018, and a further campus hoped to open in Halesworth this September.
Suffolk New College principal, Viv Gillespie, said: "I am pleased that we have completed the process successfully and that we will be working with students, staff and stakeholders to help develop an exciting business plan and develop more opportunities and courses that will fly the flag for all of our courses that we support in Ipswich, Leiston and at Suffolk Rural."
Ms Gillespie added the college understands the importance of farming, horticulture and rural crafts and the "crucial" role they play in the local economy.
During a consultation process for the merger last year, 75% of the 110 students, parents staff and local employers voted in favour of the proposal.
Craig Shimmon, marketing manager at Suffolk New College, added: "We are delighted to be working with Suffolk Rural.
"We will naturally be respecting the amazing 50 year history and legacy that Otley created, as we get set to turn the page on an exciting new era for us all."
It is hoped the merger will help provide a wider and more accessible range of progression routes into higher education for students, while allowing for a greater sharing of expertise between the colleges.
In Otley, further ideas for expansion include the addition of retail outlets to make for a "shop window" for the farming industry.
Easton College, which had formerly partnered with Otley, has now become part of City College Norwich and will too continue to offer a range of agricultural courses.
City College Norwich have plans with the University of East Anglia to open a specialist higher education centre at the Norfolk village institution. (Article - https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/otley-college-name-change-suffolk-rural-1-6450241)
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
.jpg)
The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
The case of the fake cases: another judgment on AI-hallucinations in litigation
The use of AI Large Language Models in litigation continues to generate headlines (and consternation from the judiciary). In 2025, it seemed that rarely a month went by without a new case on fake AI-generated case law. December was no exception, and the High Court has now issued a further warning regarding the use of AI by litigants.
Autumn Budget 2025: Agricultural Property Relief & Business Property Relief Changes
It was announced in the 2025 Budget that from 6 April 2026, changes will be made to agricultural property relief and business property relief. These changes bring APR and BPR in line with the nil-rate band rules, meaning unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This is a significant step towards making estate planning easier for families who own farms or businesses.
.jpg)
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to come into force tomorrow (18 December 2025)
After an extended period of back-and-forth amendments between Parliament and the House of Lords, on 16 December 2025, the ERB finally received approval from the House of Lords, with the formality of Royal Assent due to take place tomorrow (18 December 2025). Head of LP Employment, Dan Chapman, explains...
Charity of the Month: The Matthew Project
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Matthew Project as our Charity of the Month for December 2025. The Matthew Project supports young people and adults across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex to overcome issues around drugs, alcohol, and mental health, empowering them to rebuild confidence and lead fulfilling lives.
Leathes Prior’s Milan Pandit appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society
Leathes Prior Solicitors is proud to announce that Milan Pandit, Solicitor in our Corporate & Commercial Team, has been appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society (NNLS) for 2025/26.
Commercial Lease Renewals: A guide for Landlords & Tenants
Commercial lease renewals are a topic that every commercial landlord and business that rents commercial premises should have at the forefront of their minds. It is essential for good succession planning, though it is often neglected until the expiry of an existing lease term is looming or once the existing term has come to an end and the tenant is holding over. In this article, our newly qualified solicitor, Maggie Berry explores the process that landlords and tenants can expect when navigating this complex area of law.
Our Guidance, Your Legacy: What is a Will, and why should I make one?
Not only is a Will one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected, but it also limits the likelihood of a claim/dispute following your death. To ensure your loved ones and the causes you care about benefit from your estate, a Will is essential to ensuring this happens. Find out more in this article.
Lease extensions: The essentials to getting started
Extending your lease can seem complex, but taking the right steps early can make the process much smoother. Jake Mowatt, Associate and Harry Smith, Trainee Solicitor in our Residential Property Team outlines the key essentials every leaseholder should understand prior to extending their lease.
Upcoming changes to bringing employment law claims: What these mean for you
The highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is set to increase the time limits in which employees can bring an employment tribunal claim. Gareth Stevens & Rose Woolterton explain what this means for employers & employees.
