Plans submitted to convert offices into school in Three Bridges
The school would be for children with special needs
Plans to use an office block as a school for children with special needs have been submitted to Crawley Borough Council.
The application, from the Serenity Education Group, asks permission to change the use of Atlantic House, in Three Bridges, to a state-funded school.
The council bought the three-storey building, in Henson Road – which used to house EDF Energy – in 2014 for almost £4.8m.
A spokesman said no deal with Serenity had been done yet to enable a school to be opened in the building.
When the council bought the building, a spokesman said the money it earned from leasing the property would ‘be used to help fund council services’.
A lease would certainly be a boost to the coffers – in 2014, EDF was listed as being paying £355,600 per year.
Documents submitted with the application show 12 classrooms on the ground floor, 12 on the first floor and 16 on the second.
There is also space for a canteen, kitchens, play room, meeting room and various offices.
Outside, the documents show parking for 50 cars as well as the taxis and minibuses which would be used to transport some of the children to school.
The Serenity Education Group has been approached for comment.