'Historic' community centre to become SEND school

A "historic" community centre in Hinckley is set to become a school for up to 75 children with special educational needs (SEND).

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the former Westfield Community Centre on Rosemary Way was originally built as a school.

The 1930s building became a key community facility decades later but was put up for sale last year after struggling due to a lack of funding.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council's planning committee voted unanimously to change the use of the building after hearing hundreds of children across Leicestershire were on waiting lists for specialist school places.

Dr Amy Hopkin, founder of the Hopedale Group, which runs six SEND schools across the Midlands and the North East, described the centre as "historic", and said the proposals would return it "to its original purpose".

According to the LDRS, she said children had to travel "quite a way from home" due to a shortage of SEND places in the county.

Council leader Stuart Bray told the meeting he was "disappointed" at the closure of the community centre, but said: "It's good it will be brought up to modern standards."

However, he voiced concerns over the safety of children on nearby roads.

Councillor Keith Lynch, who revealed he had been involved with the former community centre for 40 years, said he was "extremely happy" about the proposals, adding: "I'm delighted it's actually going to have a future."

Dr Hopkin said a one-way system would be used for pick-ups and drop-offs.

She added: "We don't see that there would be a negative impact on Rosemary Way."

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