Former Wiltshire school being converted into housing

Plans were lodged to transform three buildings that used to be part of St Peter’s Junior School, at The Parade in Marlborough, in January of this year.

The school closed in 2016 after 160 years of providing education in the town.

If approved, the former school buildings will be converted into two houses, four maisonettes, and seven flats.

A further seven houses would also be constructed on the land to the rear of the buildings, giving a total of 20 new dwellings at the site.

A consultation on these plans ended this summer and a decision deadline of Sunday, October 6 has now been set, with Wiltshire Council considering the application.

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The former school (Image: Newsquest) The majority of the scheme, which is being delivered by Sherbourne Developments, has already been approved and construction is ongoing at the site to deliver new houses.

The application awaiting approval was submitted to address a number of alterations to the project.

This includes internal and external changes to the designs, and a change in the proposed use of multiple buildings from office and residential to just residential.

There were some concerns raised during the consultation process, with Marlborough Town Council keen to see affordable housing provided at the development.

Councillors added that they “greatly desired” for original heritage items like the school bell, the foundation stone, and the metal grammar school plaque, to be retained.

The developers had initially intended to turn the former school into a 23-bedroom hotel after an application seeking approval for this idea was submitted in 2019.

The former school (Image: Newsquest) Following an unsuccessful marketing campaign that generated insufficient interest for the commercial development, the site was earmarked for housing.

The property has been boarded off for some time while construction takes place in the area.

St Peter’s School closed following an amalgamation with St Mary’s, having been established over a century earlier in 1854.

The purpose-built facility was initially at the junction of Hyde Lane and High Street, in a building that later became Marlborough Library.

Following dwindling numbers at the school, many pupils were moved to the former Marlborough Grammar School, which is now set for redevelopment, in 1962.

The closure was described as “emotional and poignant” for both staff and students.