Plans have been submitted to convert a grade II-listed Northumberland school into residential apartments. A block of retirement living apartments and an additional 22 houses are also proposed for land within the former school grounds.
Duke's Middle School in Alnwick was founded in 1810 by the Duke of Northumberland, initially providing education for 200 underprivileged boys at a site on Green Batt. The existing grade II-listed property was built between 1901 and 1904, and was designed by James Wightman Douglas, a former pupil of the school.
Developer Northumberland Estates plans to convert the historic school building into 27 residential apartments, retaining existing features wherever possible.
It proposes the demolition of a 1960s-built extension, outbuilding and caretakers bungalow, to be replaced with a contemporary extension.
A 49-apartment retirement living scheme, developed in partnership with McCarthy & Stone, has been designed to reflect the architectural form of the school. The residential scheme, comprising 22 two-bedroom houses and bungalows, is proposed for vacant land on the site's eastern boundary.
Residents were broadly positive in response to a public consultation conducted last year.
Guy Munden, development planner with Northumberland Estates, said: "The general feeling was one of overwhelming support for the conversion and refurbishment, particularly after people saw the state that the building is currently in and the potential to bring this iconic historic building back into functioning use.
"Also well received were plans for opening up the site for public use as open green space, formalising footpath links into the town and securing recreational use for the long-term."