A PLAN to demolish a former school to make way for new flats will be discussed by councillors next week.

The former St Placide’s school in Battenhall in Worcester would be knocked down and replaced with almost 50 flats under fresh plans.

Council officers have recommended the application is approved when the planning committee meets in the Guildhall on November 24 saying the new building would be “attractive and more efficient” compared to the one approved in 2018.

The previous scheme, approved by Worcester City Council in 2018, would have seen the former Victorian junior school remain with newer extensions, built in the 1940s and 50s, demolished for more than 30 retirement flats.

Enterprise Retirement Living now wants to tear down the entire building – which has been used as a site office during the building of the wider Mount Battenhall at St Mary’s – and replace it with a new three-storey apartment building and 15 more flats and four new bungalows.

The former school’s tennis courts – which have been used as a car park during the building of the Mount Battenhall retirement village opposite – would also be built on with two new apartment blocks containing 23 flats bringing the total to 47 apartments and almost doubling the size of the development.

A total of 29 neighbours have objected to the plan claiming that the former school building is of historic importance to Worcester and should stay in place.

Objectors also said the new building would “destroy the appearance of the area” and argued the old school building could be renovated without being demolished.

The conservation advisory panel, which is made up of city councillors, was said to be split over the plans but declared it was “unacceptable” in its current form.

Enterprise Retirement Living has said the condition of the building is “poor” and would be difficult to convert into suitable apartments for the elderly.

Nearby trees could also cause damage to the building’s shallow foundations, the developer said.

A decision was expected to be made in March but an extension to the deadline was agreed until the end of November.

Worcester City Council’s planning committee meets from 1.30pm in the Guildhall on November 27.