A former Kimberley primary school that is ‘showing signs of neglect’ is set to be converted into new homes.

The former Church Hill School was originally built in 1876 by the Midland Railways Company as an elementary school to serve the ‘growing Victorian population’, according to plans.

It started out as a mixed school but became the all-boys Kimberley County Junior Boys School, before it closed in 1982.

After the school closed, the building was used as an extension of Broxtowe College for a period.

The old Church Hill Primary School in Kimberley is to be converted into housing. Photo: Google

placeholder image — The old Church Hill Primary School in Kimberley is to be converted into housing. Photo: Google

Now, Broxtowe Council has given the go-ahead to Gray House Developments’ plans for the old school to be converted into three homes, with one four-bedroom home and two three-bed homes.

The building is beginning to ‘show signs of neglect’ after being left vacant for a ‘prolonged period’ of time, according to plans.

Documents say that while the building is not considered at-risk, it remaining empty has left it ‘vulnerable’ to deterioration, anti-social behaviour, vandalism and trespassing.

Developers plan to ‘minimise’ the change to the building’s external look in an effort to ‘retain its historic form, scale and key architectural features’.

Inside the building, its historic features, such as the original roof trusses and structural elements, will be kept and even exposed where possible to ‘allow appreciation’ of the building.

Roy Plumb, chair of the Kimberley (Chinemarelian) Historical Society, previously spoke to the local democracy reporting service (LDRS) when proposals for the site were first submitted to the council.

Now aged 85, he attended the school when he was seven-years-old back in 1948 and said he welcomed his old school being used for new homes, saying ‘it was a shame the see the building not properly used’.

He said: “To convert it to houses, if it’s not going to alter the external appearance, is a good use of it – it’s better than pulling it down.”

Coun Andy Cooper (Lab), who represents Kimberley on the council, previously told the LDRS the former school has ‘been an eyesore for some years’.

Council documents say: “The building generally is sadly showing signs of degradation as a result of many years of neglect since the main school use ceased.

“The proposal will bring some much needed care, attention and investment to the building; repairing the numerous signs of degradation and significantly enhancing its appearance.”