Bungalows to be built at former school site

The site of a former primary school in Hull is to have 48 bungalows built on it.

Approval was granted for the land on Snowden Way by the city council last September, however Sport England objected to the plan due to the loss of the school's playing field.

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed it was not going to "call in" the project to allow the secretary of state to make the final decision, meaning work can now start.

The primary school closed two decades ago and the building used as a fitness centre and, more recently, as a boxing club.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, in 2023 the building was demolished after it had become a focal point for arson and anti-social behaviour.

Sport England argued that as the land remained council-owned, the local authority "were it so-minded, would have the resources to bring the playing field back into use".

It also noted Hull's play pitch strategy being assessed last year had identified shortfall in provision for several sports, including rugby league.

An early planning document indicated the homes are to be built for Pickering & Ferens Housing Association, which specialises in independent living for individuals aged over 60.

The housing will be a mixture of dormer bungalows, which are one-and-a-half storeys tall, and bungalows, which are one-storey, with 33 three-bed homes and 15 two-bed ones.

As part of the approval process, the developer has agreed to make five homes available as affordable housing, the LDRS added.

The developer will also contribute £48,000 towards open space near the development and spend more than £130,000 towards the planting and maintenance of trees to replace those being felled at the site.

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