Demolition approved for ‘no longer fit for purpose’ Leicestershire school buildings

NewsDemolition approved for ‘no longer fit for purpose’ Leicestershire school buildingsA new teaching block will be built for pupilsleicestermercuryBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByHannah

RichardsonLocal Democracy Reporter12:47, 3 JUN 2025BookmarkFive buildings from the art and design block will be flattened (Image: Google)Get the latest Leicestershire Live breaking news on

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A Leicestershire school is set to undergo a huge transformation with “unfit” teaching spaces to be replaced. Five of the buildings at Castle Rock High School, in Coalville, are to be torn

down as part of a Government plan to refurbish education settings across the country.

These have been branded “no longer fit for modern day teaching purposes” by the Department for Education (DfE), and are set to be replaced with a new, two-storey building on what are

currently playing fields. The buildings formerly belonged to King Edward VII Science and Sport College prior to its merger with Castle Rock in 2020. The plan will not see either staff or

pupil numbers increase at the school.

The main, X-shaped teaching space on the site is to remain, as will the building closest to the Meadow Lane/Warren Hills Road junction and a handful of smaller buildings to the eastern edge

of the site. The new classrooms will be constructed to the south-west of the X-shaped block.

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North West Leicestershire District Council has given permission for the full scheme to go ahead. The work, which will also include a new multi-use games area and landscaping, is to be split

into three phases to minimise disruption for pupils.

The first will see the new C-shaped block built. Once complete, staff and pupils will decant into this to allow the demolition of the existing buildings. Finally, the new sports provision

will be completed.

Some concerns had been raised by council officers over the impact on what they considered to be local heritage assets. These include a sculptural wall on the site, which is set to be

retained but relocated, according to planning documents.

Conservation officers also raised concerns over the demolition of two of the buildings, which they wanted to be retained and refurbished instead. However, the DfE advised that this would be

“too costly”. If the council insisted on this, the department warned, it could jeopardise the school’s inclusion in the funding programme.

Ultimately, planning officers ruled the loss of the buildings to be outweighed by the “public benefits” of the scheme which they said would allow the continued provision of education at the

school into the future.