New special school plans for empty council office

Soon-to-be empty council offices could be demolished to make way for a special school, new plans have revealed.

The Priory Green offices in Whitburn Close, Pendeford, Wolverhampton would be flattened to make way for a new purpose-built 120-pupil school.

The work, submitted by Central Learning Partnership Trust, would see Broadmeadow Special School relocate to the new building from its current home in Lansdowne Road.

The school opened in Whitmore Reans in 1997 as a 30-place nursery for children with special needs and was extended into the neighbouring Whitmore Reans Family Hub and a pair of temporary classrooms on its car park in 2023.

The new school would cater for up to 120 children with special educational needs aged between four and 19, up from the 75 children aged up to 11 that are currently accommodated.

The application said the existing building was not "designed for purpose" and the school had "made the best out of the facilities available".

The school is currently in need of a "major refurbishment" and an entire new roof, the application to City of Wolverhampton Council said, and its toilets were not designed for older children.

The existing community centre and library would remain and be unaffected by the proposals for the new school.

Part of the neighbouring St Paul's Primary School's playing field would be given to the new school as outdoor space.

The ageing Priory Green offices were among several buildings deemed surplus to requirements by City of Wolverhampton Council last year and put up for sale as part of cost-cutting measures.

The offices are currently home to council safeguarding staff and are set to be vacated this month.

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