DEMOLITION work to bring down the old North Leamington School building is set to start in the next two weeks while the landowner plans to start building dozens of new homes by spring next year.
The abandoned Croft Hall site off Cloister Way will make way for 44 new houses and flats after land owners Spitfire Bespoke Homes were granted planning permission by Warwick District Council earlier this year.
It is expected demolition work will last for 16 weeks, and building works on the new houses could start from as early as March 2017.
Due to the current risk to residents, professionals are clearing the area of asbestos while a full health and safety check is carried out.
The former school site has not been in use since it was sold to registered charity Castel Froma.
Initially, the charity planned to build its own specialist care unit – however a potential deal fell through several years ago.
A Spitfire spokesman told The Observer prices for the new houses will range from £400,000 to £1million.
They added: “We will be building six substantial-detached houses, six semi-detached town houses, nine mews houses and 23 apartments.
“Construction of the site will commence in spring next year.
“Demolition work is being carried out by a specialist contractor Liston, who are fully compliant.”
News of the demolition has been welcomed by residents nearby, though some people have raised their concern about the high levels of asbestos on the site – which can be a leading cause of lung cancer.
Milverton Councillor Bill Gifford said: “Though some have objections, generally residents do want to see the old school demolished.
“It has been rotting and vandalised for many years.
“However they do want the building to be demolished with great care, this is particularly important due to the asbestos on the site.”
Joy Mitchell, headteacher at North Leamington School, said: “We are sad to see the old site demolished because we are proud of the history of our school.
“That said, we are pleased to see the space put to positive use and hope that many of the children that ultimately live there will become members of our school community on our new site.”
