New homes to replace former school damaged by fire

A former primary school severely damaged by a fire six years ago will be turned into homes.

Cornwall Council has approved plans to convert the former Carclaze Infants School in St Austell, despite attempts to retain it for community use.

The school, built in the late 1870s by Cornish architect Silvanus Trevail, closed in 2010 after a new school opened nearby and the building has remained derelict ever since, which attracted anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Two fires, suspected to be arson attacks, at the building in 2015 and 2020, destroyed a large section of the roof and internal parts of the building but most of the stone structure has remained intact.

The building was "much-loved" by local residents, who formed a group in an attempt ensure the survival of the school said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In 2025, ALA Architects Ltd was appointed by applicant Morcom Construction to apply for permission to convert and extend the school to provide eight homes after it was sold for £262,000 at auction.

It said the intention was to create eight residential units with a mix of two and three bedroom houses and plans to retain "as much of the original school as practical".

ALA Architects said: "Following an extensive search for a community use, Cornwall Council failed to secure an interested party, largely due to the costs involved in the renovation works to the existing building.

"Rather than face the demolition of the former school, a use that may be supported by grant funding was considered, leading to a decision to investigate the potential to provide affordable housing.

"Previously, the main driver was to save the building from demolition and this proposal succeeds in this."

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