Flintshire Council green lights demolition of former Penyffordd Junior School building

Flintshire County Council has given the go-ahead for the demolition of the former Penyffordd Junior School building, marking a significant step towards potential affordable housing and community use in the area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The school, located on Penymynydd Road, Penyffordd, closed its doors in July 2019 after joining together with the infant school at a new multi-million-pound facility on Abbott’s Lane. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Since its closure, the building has reportedly been the subject of anti-social behaviour, including break-ins and vandalism. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The decision to demolish the building comes under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 – Schedule 2, Part 31. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This provision allows for the demolition of buildings that have been rendered unsafe or uninhabitable, provided certain conditions are met. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The former junior school was closed in July 2019, when the school relocated to a new site within the village. The building is currently vacant and has reportedly been subject to anti-social behaviour with a number of break-ins and vandalism,” said James Beattie, the contact officer for the application. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The site has been earmarked for a potential affordable housing scheme by Flintshire County Council, with the remainder transferred for local community use. “It is therefore beneficial to remove the former school building from the site,” Mr Beattie added. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Before demolition, the school will undergo asbestos abatement requirements, removing all known or identified asbestos as per the survey. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The buildings will then be prepared for extensive demolition. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The site is under the control of Flintshire council’s assets department, it has been proposed to gift the green areas of the former school to the community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is hoped that part of the site will be used for social housing with the help of funding from Welsh Government.” Flintshire council said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Other uses for part of the land include extending public green spaces for residents. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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