Secondary school to be demolished and rebuilt

A Lincoln secondary school is to be demolished and rebuilt

Lincoln Castle Academy, in Riseholme Road, will get a new teaching block, a separate sports hall and an outdoor games area.

The 900-pupil school has been identified under the government's rebuilding programme, which seeks to replace facilities in poor condition or at the end of their lives.

It will remain open throughout the construction project, with mobile classrooms placed on the playing field, as demolition work is carried out block-by-block.

A planning meeting at City of Lincoln Council on Wednesday heard the school would be carbon-neutral with a three-storey teaching block.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Julia Day of consultants Dobson Grey Ltd told the committee the school had been identified as a priority by the government "due to its poor condition".

"There is an urgent need to replace it to provide a safe, modern, inspirational environment which students and staff deserve," she said.

The adjoining Yarborough Leisure Centre will remain unaffected throughout the work and the existing sports hall will eventually be transferred to the council for public use.

Councillor Rebecca Longbottom, who worked in the school for 27 years, told the meeting: "These buildings became very familiar to me over the years, but they've had their day now.

"It's extremely heartening to hear about how energy efficient the buildings will be. When I worked in the west block, there was only a single thermostat for the whole building.

"Times have moved on, and it's great to see this area getting a new school."

The application was approved unanimously, and work will begin once final terms are agreed.

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