AN attempt to transform an increasingly dilapidated and rundown school in Winkton now lies in the hands of Christchurch Borough Council’s planning department.

Revised proposals to transform the school into a 64-bedroom care home have been resubmitted after they were withdrawn at the eleventh hour last year.

Homefield School in Salisbury Road has lain empty for more than four years after suddenly closing £1million in debt in 2005.

After being targeted by vandals and trespassers as well as travellers over the past few years, local residents and the parish council are keen to see the site used again for positive means.

An extensive marketing campaign by owners Parkridge at the beginning of this year revealed that an educational institution – one of the long-standing preferred options – was no longer a viable choice.

It is believed that such an institution is no longer required in the local area and that the buildings at Homefield do not lend themselves easily to this use any longer.

King Sturge, the company responsible for the marketing campaign, said they believed the site was suitable for a mixed-use care home and residential development and said they did not think the buildings would be suitable for any other use.

Parkridge say they have made substantial changes to the first application submitted last year, due to concerns about the design of the care home, the impact on the green belt and the lack of provision for affordable housing.

Applications regarding the site are made much more complex due to the location of the school, which is situated on a green belt site in a conservation area, meaning that planning rules are much stricter.