Former school could become new homes

A former Kent school has been sold to potentially develop new homes on the site.

Estate agents SHW said Halfway Houses Primary School at Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, was bought by Homes England with a view to obtaining planning permission for a residential development.

The 3.75 acre site, one mile (1.6km) from the town centre, has been allocated for 60 dwellings in a 2017 Swale local plan.

But a spokesperson for Swale Borough Council told the BBC no planning application for the site had been submitted.

"Any proposed development would be subject to the normal planning process," they added.

The school, which was sold on behalf of Kent County Council (KCC), was closed in October 2016 when it was relocated to a new facility nearby.

A spokesperson for KCC said the sale of the site would support the local authority's investment programme and "essential services, such as school places and maintenance of the authority's property, schools, and highways infrastructure".

Paul Dawson, assistant director of acquisitions and partnering at Homes England, said the development would "meet the needs of the local community".

"This sale marks a significant milestone for the scheme," he added.

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