A development retaining an attractive old building in which generations of Hamworthy youngsters learnt their lessons, has been proposed.

The former Hamworthy First School site in Blandford Road, Poole has been sold by the Borough of Poole to David Wilson Homes Southern.

However the Victorian Lady Wimborne building is listed as being of local importance and residents were keen that it be retained.

The remainder of the school has been demolished and a brand new school was built further along the Blandford Road.

Plans have been submitted to the council to build 14 three-bed houses and six one-bed and six two-bed flats on the 1.4 acre site, with 40 per cent affordable housing.

Within the old school building there would be three two-bed and one three-bed apartments with the remainder in three two-storey buildings in the south-east corner of the site.

Four pairs of semi-detached houses would front Blandford Road with two pairs of semi-detached houses along Tuckers Lane.

Parking is in individual garages with space for an additional car, car ports or parking spaces. There would be 45 car parking spaces on the site, providing 1.5 per home.

Hamside Residents Association secretary Ann Smeaton said her association was keen to know how much of the old school would be retained and what would be changed.

"The Lady Wimborne' portion of the old school is very precious. Its retention is very important to the community," she said in a letter commenting on the application.

Other concerns related to an acceptable landscaping scheme and a fence between the development and Tuckers Field - the old school field which cannot be built on.

"This would eliminate the possibility of any nuisance problems in the future - assuming that eventually Tuckers Field becomes a fenced recreational amenity for the entire community," she said.