A FORMER Carlisle school described as an ‘eyesore’ could be bulldozed for housing, if plans get the go-ahead.

Carlisle City Council last week received proposals, for outline planning permission, to demolish the former Cotehill Church of England Primary School, at Peter Gate, and build three homes.

The applicant is listed as the Derbyshire-based Chatsworth Settlement Trustees, which owns the land and estates of the Duke of Devonshire.

It is understood the former village school closed in 1995 and the trustees now want to use the land to build three homes on the quarter-of-an-acre site.

According to the design and access statement: “The site is the former school which closed due to it no longer being required for educational purposes.

“It is not a listed building and has been sat vacant ever since.

“The original school site was larger but since the school closed in 1995, the former school playing fields have been developed.

“To the south and south west of the Old School House on the school's former playing fields a residential development was approved and developed between 1997 and 1998, this involved the construction of 13 dwellings.

“St John’s Close is the southern extent of the built-up area of the settlement before reaching open countryside, therefore the site offers a simple infill development opportunity.

“The site currently includes vacant school buildings and school yard which has not been utilised since its closure.

“It is considered to be an eyesore by many of the local residential as it is not in keeping with the rest of the village.

“It is therefore proposed that the site would benefit from the demolition of the existing buildings and to redevelop the site for small scale residential development.

“The submitted scheme has been designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding landscape and neighbouring uses.

“Due to the size of the proposal, the scheme would not be subject to any developer contributions.”

It adds that current plans are for indicative purposes only.

It is understood that a similar proposal had been approved in 2017 but the permission granted then is due to expire.

For more details go online to www.carlisle.gov.uk/Residents/Planning-and-Building-Control, quoting the application number 20/0612.