Proposals to transform a historic West Leeds building into a specialist school have taken a step closer to reality.
Grade II-listed Armley Grange has been bought from Leeds City Council by Horizon Care and Education for use as a specialist school for children aged seven to 19 years.
Horizon have now submitted a planning application to alter and refurbish the former day centre building.
Plans include the conversion of the annexe from offices into a teaching space for pupils.
They also include the demolition of an external canopy, rearrangement of car parking to provide two play areas and additional car parking spaces and a new bin collection point and cycle storage area.
A heritage statement submitted with the application says:
“The conversion of the annexe clearly raises no heritage issues, although it is worth noting here that the proposed removal of the ugly and intrusive canopy that currently links it to the house will considerably improve the relationship between the two buildings, re-instating the original standalone nature of the listed building in the process.”
The proposals follow a public consultation event organised by Horizon last November.
Subject to the proposals being acceptable to Leeds City Council’s planning department and attaining approval from the Department for Education, Horizon hope to open in September 2020 with their first 25 students.
It is anticipated that after the Grange has undergone repair and refurbishment that it will support classrooms a further 25 students and open in Spring/Summer 2021
Armley Grange was built in the early 19th century but previous owners Leeds City Council had deemed it surplus to requirements. The building was sold at auction in October, with a guide price of £350,000.
Plans can be viewed in full here.
