Decision

The Leader of the Council nominated the Corporate Resources Portfolio Holder to provide the written response as well as an oral response to the following public question that had been submitted:

Question

What is happening with the two redundant Council-owned school sites in Silsden (where I live) which closed nearly 5 years ago, and which have since suffered fire damage and increasingly unsightly decay?

Response

Hothfield Junior School and Aire View Infants School were marketed by the Council and contracts have been exchanged with the highest bidder.

The prospective purchaser has submitted planning applications for both sites for residential developments – the Hothfield site for 25 dwellings, the Aire View site for 22 dwellings. Both applications are with the Council’s Planning Department and are noted on the Planning Portal as at the “Recommendation and/or Committee” stage.

The matters are with the purchaser to agree the S106 conditions and once agreed the Planning department will instruct legal services to conclude the S106 agreement and then the planning decision can then be issued.

Whilst the planning process continues, the purchaser has undertaken a suite of technical surveys on each site to help inform the abnormal development costs. These are almost complete and following the outcome of these, will enable both parties to negotiate and agree the final sale price. We anticipate the sales to be concluded by 31st March 2027.