A derelict school site in Malvern Wells could be brought back to life.

After Wells House closed as a school 14 years ago, none of various plans to develop the site came to fruition. In the meantime, items like elm floorboards have been stolen from the building.

Now developers JJSD Homes of Devon are working on the project with Worcester-based architects Boughton Butler, who also worked on the recent Croftdown School conversion on Abbey Road.

Andrew Boughton, of Boughton Butler, said the first phase was completing the conversion of the old gym block to four houses, which had been left unfinished by an earlier developer.

They are also taking a fresh look at converting the main buildings to flats; the existing planning permission for 18 flats is unviable, says Mr Boughton.

Part of an overgrown area that used to be the school's tennis courts and playing fields could be developed for housing or a nursing home, and the rest used as public amenity land.

However, this would need a change of use in the local plan, for which they are appealing.

Developers recently met Malvern Wells Parish Council to discuss the possibilities. Among the suggestions were car parking, a new village hall or recreation land.

Council chairman Brian Wilcock said: "Our main concern is to secure a small amount of land to open up sightlines for the war memorial. Other than that, we await the plans with interest."

The main building is one of the most prominent on the hills above Malvern Wells. It was originally built as a coaching inn in 1748 and was a school from 1870 to 1991.