WILL HERITAGE CONCERNS SCUPPER PROPOSAL TO REDEVELOP FORMER SCHOOL SITE?

The school - seen from the top of Parker Street

UNCERTAINTY surrounds proposals  for a former school and education centre in Cleethorpes to be demolished in favour of a housing development.

A consortium of builders is keen to knock down the Thrunscoe school buildings  off Highgate to make way for 42 homes.

But the buildings have heritage value - they date back to 1932 and the days of Lindsey County Council.

The school closed in 1996 and was more recently, refurbished, then used as a education centre until it closed in 2017.

The buildings are mainly single storey with some two-storey elements two and built of brickwork with slate tile roof and a mixture of timber and upvc windows and doors. 

Although (with one exception) neighbours have been either neutral or supportive, the conservation officer for North East Lincolnshire Council/ Engie, Emilie Wales, has lodged a holding objection.

In a report, she says: "I note the application is total demolition with re-use of stone but with no details of where the stone is to be reused. The application which is for total demolition results in substantial harm.

"No viability statement has been submitted to support the application and there is no evidence that there has been an attempt to first avoid, then minimise this harm.

"Heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource, and should be conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of existing and future generations. 

"This cannot be achieved though total demolition.

"This proposal does not achieve aspirations designed to sustain and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and put them to viable uses consistent with their conservation."

Ms Wales feels that any redevelopment of the site should make "a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness.

"Until all reasonable efforts have been made to  mitigate the extent of the harm to the significance of the asset, I recommend refusal."

The only other objector to date has been Christine Wardle, of 42 Wendover Rise, Cleethorpes, who is unhappy about potential removal of trees and consequent loss of birds, bats and other wildlife.

Says she: " This area is host to many of nature's creatures and should continue to be so. 

"It would be reckless to do so without thought for the environment." 

Mrs Wardle favours redevelopment of the site with "a community centre for the homeless - to support vulnerable people, to help the needy and to provide valuable, practical aid for those in desperate circumstances". 

Another neighbour, Mr Kevin Randell , of 44 Lindsey Road, has made a comment about the birdlife.

Says he: "We are visited by long tail tits, coal tits, sparrows, dunnocks and, after an absence of many years, a breeding pair of song thrushes. 

"The sparrow hawk and pipistrelle bat are both seen on a regular basis."

It is not known whether NELC/Engie  planning case officer Cheryl Jarvis will determine the application under delegated powers or whether it will go before the planning committee for councillors to decide.

Below are  pictures of the front of the site, off Highgate, which would provide the access for traffic during and after any redevelopment.