The site of an old primary school has been earmarked for council housing as Brighton and Hove City Council looks to tackle rising homelessness, a long waiting list and a shortage of affordable homes.
St Peter’s Primary School, in St Peter’s Road, Portslade, could be converted into 10 affordable homes, according to a report to the council’s cabinet on Thursday (16 October).
The report set out a proposal to raise £50 million in capital receipts – from selling assets such as property – by 2030.
The approach would reduce maintenance costs and enable the council to help more people in need of housing.
When the closure of St Peter’s was proposed two years ago, it had the lowest number of children in reception to year 6 of all primary schools in Brighton and Hove. It was also more than £200,000 in the red.
At the cabinet meeting, the Labour deputy leader of the council, Jacob Taylor, said that closing the school had been a hard decision but pupil numbers were falling then – and still were – because the city was “unaffordable” and families were moving out.
The birth rate in Brighton and Hove fell by 29 per cent from 2013 to 2022 and only two other council areas in England had a lower birth rate.
Councillor Taylor said that private renters were spending nearly half their wages on rent, making Brighton and Hove the fourth least affordable council area in the whole country.
He said: “We had to make some difficult decisions to close some of our schools because the numbers aren’t there.
“I am pleased, in a sense, that we are now going to consider transferring St Peter’s School to our ‘housing revenue account’ to potentially build new social and affordable homes for our residents in that part of town.”
The council’s families, children and wellbeing directorate has no plans to use the site for education and any change of use will require consent from the government.
South Portslade resident Emily Brewer, who campaigned to save the school, was not surprised to hear that the council was considering the site for housing.
She said: “I understand the need for social housing but that site is not the best place for it. It’s a densely populated area on a very busy road with services like health already stretched.
“The parking is already impossible so I hope they consider things like permits which are needed.
“I wonder where they hope to school the children from the families that move there? My daughter’s school which is the nearest one to that location was oversubscribed last year.
“I do hope they consider retaining the World War 2 bunker as well. There is a huge amount of history attached to that building, stretching back over 100 years.”
The site has not yet been valued, with the proposal still in its early stages.
I think it’s a disgrace to our children and the community at large. This is not acceptable. The country has had enough. Our children are the future for tomorrow we really need to be a good example!
No, what’s not acceptable is an empty building not being used when it could be used to tackle homelessness. Not doing anything would be the disgrace to the community and children at large.
Spot on Benjamin, too many trying to sideline anything and everything for reasons unknown.
I’d rather the building used for SEND provision or for those who can’t cope in large school settings. Keep it in education so it can be reused if numbers grow again. Schools are struggling to meet the needs of so many kids who would do better in specialist small settings.
My mother went to the school in 1912 .and my children in the1970.s.It was a brilliant school but the fashion seems to be academies now unfortunately.
Better something done with the site than left empty. School admission numbers are forecast to fall in Brighton for at least the next 5 years and we already have some schools that are struggling by closing classes. There is capacity in the system if a sudden rise occurs without this site. I do like the idea of another SEND site but extra funding would need to be secured and the more modern and central St Barts site would be the better option.
Theres always SOMEONE crying outrage when we’re looking after the less fortunate.
The building is empty and unused and, most importantly, unfit for purpose in a modern world.
I hope it is a sensitive conversion fully respectful of the history of the school.