School plans outlined as former Sheffield church - dating back to 1860s - could be transformed
Planning application submitted to transform 166-year-old church building
But now, the Greenhead Wesleyan Reform Church, in Chapeltown, looks set to be transformed into a special school, under plans drawn up by an educational trust.
Bright Futures Care Ltd has now submitted a planning application for the scheme to Sheffield Council, which would see five classrooms put in place to serve 30 pupils at the school.
It will see all the windows and doors replaced in the building as well as some other work on the 161-year-old landmark.
Its planning application reveals the school would be operated from 8am until 5pm Monday to Friday, under the plans outlined in a document by DV Architects.
The interior will be refurbishment to provide five classrooms, a dining and kitchen area, administration office and toilets. Some demolition work is required internally and some new lightweight partitions are required to separate the new spaces. The high ceilings will remain.
The building was sold off after being put on the market for £429,000.
Marketing the Victorian building, Right Move had described it as dating back to 1865, and being an exciting and increasingly rare opportunity to acquire a substantial former church and land offering exceptional potential for redevelopment, conversion, or reimagining into a truly unique project. It also had an extension build in 1991.
The building has a large car park, but for the planned school, some of this will be used for a play area.
The architects describe plans for a a secure play area with sensory garden at the back of the building with a carpark at the front.
The car park will be reduced in size with room for six car parking spaces including one for disability access, along with three mini bus spaces. There will also be a new electric vehicle charging point. The school entrance will have a fence with a gate, and a fence will cover every side of the play area.
Bright Futures Care Ltd describe themselves as an established specialist care and education provider’ that supports young people and adults with complex needs to access meaningful education and community living experiences.
Its pupils are generally diagnosed with autism, learning disabilities, or both.
The business currently operate two-day schools, in Warrington; and St Helens, and several residential care facilities in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
A letter to the council from consultants, Euan Kellie, working on the plans for Bright Futures, said: “They work collaboratively with families, local authorities and communities to develop a shared vision and ambitions for their pupils, which will enable them to achieve their social, emotional, academic and life skills potential.”
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