The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation will make a second attempt to get permission from the Charity Commission to sell Arundells – the £6m home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.

The trustees of the Foundation had wanted to sell Arundells in 2010 as they decided it was no longer commercially-viable to keep it open for the public. However the sale was blocked by the Charity Commission last year, who decided that the trustees of the Foundation had not adequately explored all other means of raising income to keep the home open.

In a statement this week, the trustees of the Foundation say a commissioned study has found it is not possible for the Foundation to retain financial viability whilst retaining Arundells and keeping it open to the public.

As a result, the trustees will reapply to the Charity Commission to sell Arundells and use funds raised from the sale to support organisations specified in Sir Edward Heath’s Will. 

However, they are set to face strong opposition from campaign group Friends of Arundells, who were central to blocking the sale last year through strong representation to the Charity Commission.

A statement on the group’s website says with a different business plan Arundells could be viable and it will continue its efforts to keep the home open.

Arundells was Sir Edward’s home for the last 20 years of his life and first started taking visitors in 2008.