Work starting on Sheffield primary school rebuild project, with 'caretaker's house' set to be demolished
Caretaker’s house set to be first part to go as school plans move forward
Plans to demolish and rebuild a popular Sheffield primary school have moved foward, with the green light to knock down a caretaker’s building, familiar to generations of youngsters.
Now Sheffield Council has approved the demolition of the house, and confirmed that works have started on site at Brunswick Primary School, Woodhouse, as part of the broader development.
No long-term use for the site of the former house has yet been drawn up, but it is expected to be used as a yard for the construction workers working on the construction of a new school, and the demolition of the old one.
A council officers’ report made as part of the application for planning permission to knock down the caretaker’s house stated: “The application refers to a vacant caretaker’s dwelling within the grounds of Brunswick Community Primary School.
“Planning permission for the demolition of the existing school and for the erection of a replacement primary school and associated works...was granted conditionally on October 2 2025. Works on site have commenced in respect of this development. “
The caretaker’s house is now to become the first part of the 60s school site to be lost to time.
It is victim of changing times which have seen it stand empty in recent years.
The plans for the main school building to be replaced will see a new school constructed in the existing grounds.
A report by Sheffield Council ’s City Growth Capital Delivery Service, described how the existing school will operate in parallel and then be demolished when the new school building is brought into use.
The report stated: “The current and future operations of the school do not require a caretaker to live on-site.
“The location of the caretaker’s house is a suitable location for site facilities as it is an area of the site that is not in use for the operations of the existing school and not required for those of the new building.
“It is proposed that the initial use of the site after the demolition of the caretaker’s house will be for the site compound for the construction phase of the new school building. “
It describes the bungalow, dating back to the 1960s, as having been vacant for some time and having fallen into a poor state of repair.
“Its current structure and condition make it unsuitable for future use without significant investment,” it added.
“The building which is no longer fit for purpose and is currently vacant has the potential to attract anti-social behaviour/ vandalism and associated costs to council budgets.
“It is therefore considered a priority to carry out service disconnections and subsequent demolition of the building.”
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