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The fate of a former school in Hythe is to be decided tonight as a proposal to turn the site into 150 homes comes back to the table.
Ambitious artist impressions reveal how Foxwood School in Seabrook Road could be transformed with the planned homes set among open green spaces and trees, and offering sea views.
The former school was vacated in 2016 when it merged with Highview School to become “The Beacon” in Folkestone, which is still running.
All that remains is a mix of derelict buildings.
These would be demolished as part of the plans for 125 apartments, 16 houses and seven self-build plots, with 10% being classed as “affordable housing” and a financial contribution equivalent to 20% affordable housing off-site.
The houses would be a mix of three and four bedrooms and the apartments are a range of two to three bedrooms.
Hythe Town Council had previously objected to the proposal on the grounds that the applicant had increased the number of homes from 132 to 150, the intensification of the development and "insufficient" affordable housing in Hythe, among other concerns.
The application also received objections over the loss of the former school's playing fields.
Sport England has since agreed a £50,000 contribution with the applicant to provide two football pitches on council property.
However, executive head teacher of The Beacon School, Neil Birch, said in support of the application: “Foxwood wasn’t a ‘traditional’ school site and they used one of the few flat pieces of land as a summer play space and to hold the school fete.
"It also had a 6-a-side football pitch which was used once or twice a year.
“PE took place on the playgrounds outside the buildings or in the hall in the main house.
"It was the only bit of flat grass on the site, but it wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination a ‘sports field’.
“The hydrotherapy pool, two multi-use games areas, a grassed area, two outdoor play areas and a four-court sports hall at the new school represent a huge improvement on the sports facilities for all the young people and they have also, by negotiation, use of the astroturf football pitch at the Folkestone Academy, when they need it.”
The application will be discussed by members of Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s planning and licensing committee tonight.
Officers have recommended that the application, from Sunningdale House Developments, be approved.
