A Heritage Assessment was undertaken which identified those buildings of significance which should be retained. The two buildings fronting London Road, one of which is listed, is to be retained, as is the former school building directly behind. Shalem Lodge – which fronts the site – is not listed but has been identified as making a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area and will be retained. The plan is to invest in the historic fabric, renovate and convert them into apartments.

Yes. Following the closure of the school, the Board of Trustees sought to find an education occupier for the site in order that could continue to fulfil an educational purpose. Despite their best efforts there was no interest from any educational institutions.

Alternative uses have also been considered as part of the viability of redeveloping the site and investing in the heritage assets. Residential use is the only commercially viable option which would be attractive to the market and ensure that the refurbishment and regeneration is delivered.

With people living longer, there is an increasing need for new homes. Between 2018 and 2033 it is forecasted that the number of households within Newark and Sherwood will increase by over 6,000, representing an 11.4% increase. Newark and Sherwood District Council published their Housing Needs Assessment in 2020, which identified a requirement to deliver 454 new homes per annum in order to meet local need. This scheme will help to deliver a variety of homes to meet the diverse local need. It also provides an opportunity to prioritise development on a sustainable brownfield site in the town centre.

Up to 130 new homes are proposed. This includes a mixture of homes, ranging from two- to four-bedroom homes. In light of feedback from the local community we have also included bungalows in the plans. If this planning application is approved, we will confirm the exact number and layout of homes through a subsequent reserved matters application.

There are two proposed access points to the development. The first will be a brand-new access off London Road. This will serve the northern parcel of the development, which consists of the restored listed buildings and some of the new homes. The second access is proposed off Harewood Avenue, and this will provide access to the residential development in the southern parcel. It should be noted that there will be no vehicular access through the site from Harewood Avenue to London Road or vice versa.

However, there will be a pedestrian link through the site from Harewood Avenue to London Road and the town centre.

We understand that there are concerns about a lack of green space within Newark. It is however important to note that the former Lilley and Stone School site is not and has never been open to the public and that unlike some other developments in Newark, this site does not involve the loss of any publicly accessible green space.

Instead, the site will be opened up to the community whilst also ensuring that funding is provided to enhance local sports facilities across Newark to improve people’s access to quality and publicly accessible recreation space.

Whilst the playing fields to the rear of the site have never been open to the public, we will be providing financial contributions to Newark and Sherwood District Council to account for their loss. This funding will then be spent to improve sports provision elsewhere in Newark.

One of the obvious benefits of this site from a sustainability perspective is its location. Given the proximity to the town centre and the fact that many amenities are within walking distance, this development will be far less reliant on car travel than developments further away from the town centre. It also provides the opportunity to enhance existing pedestrian connections, creating new green links through the site to connect people to shops and nearby green space.

The commercial viability of redeveloping any site with listed buildings and heritage assets is crucial. The suggestion that the rear of the site could be converted into a park is not feasible for a number of reasons. The main barrier to this is that of funding. The listed buildings on the site are in dire need of restoration, and in order to do this is essential that sufficient capital is raised to fund the renovation. This will be enabled by the residential development to the rear of the site. Even if it were feasible from a financial perspective, it would not be possible under the terms set out in the Lilley and Stone School Trust’s governing statement, which requires them to dispose of assets in order to fund education within Newark and Balderton.

There is no covenant on the land requiring it to be used for educational purposes. The Lilley and Stone Trust are simply required to dispose of assets in order to fund education within Newark and Balderton.

An outline application seeks to establish the principle of development on the site. As the name suggests, these proposals come in “outline” form, including an indicative layout, a maximum number of homes, and the means of access. If this application is successful, the more specific details such as the appearance of the homes, as well as their exact layout and mix, will be determined at a later date through the submission of a reserved matters application to be determined by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

A planning application for the site was submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council in January 2024. A decision on whether to approve the plans is anticipated to be made later this year.

If successful in securing planning permission, we will then submit a reserved matters application for the rear of the site.

If you would like to be kept up to date on the plans then you can register to receive our e-newsletter via this website’s home page. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the plans further, you can also get in touch with us via email at info@lilleyandstone-redevelopment.co.uk and by phone on 0800 148 8911.

Bildurn was brought onboard by the former school’s trustees to lead on the submission of a planning application and eventual development of the site should planning permission be received.

The Trustees continue to have a financial interest in the site and will benefit financially from a successful planning permission. They remain committed to securing a legacy for the site, though they are not directly involved with the planning application.