Historic Care Home Becomes Special Needs Center

0:00Plans are in the works to transform an old care home in Ibstok, Lester Shire, into a six-form center for students with special educational needs. The Grade 2 listed building at 111 Melbourne Road dates back to 1830 and sat empty after closing as the Elms Care Home. This new spot would serve as a standalone extension for Forestway School and nearby Colville, which is dealing with overcrowding and a rundown. Facility that needs serious fixes. The center would hold 48 pupils and 20 staff, with parking including seven spots for employees, one for a minibus, plus extra spaces, through deals with the local gym and cricket club. Open Thinking Partnership, the group pushing the idea, calls it a smart reuse that saves the historic structure without big changes, just enough too. Make it functional and secure its future. Council Officers or the Planning Committee at Northwest Lester Shire District Council will soon decide if these early plans move forward, potentially breathing new life into

1:00the site for years to come. I'm Corey with The Story, and you've been listening to Lester News today, AI-powered local news.