An independent primary school forced to close by the cost of living crisis can be turned into housing, the council has said.

Ashbrooke House and Pre School taught children in Weston-super-Mare for decades but shut down in July 2022. In a statement at the time, the school said: “Recently due to the pandemic , the increasing high cost of living and other financial burdens, the number of pupils attending has substantially declined. As a consequence, the business cannot continue to operate in a viable way. 

“Ashbrooke House School was founded almost seventy years ago and we are proud of the educational service we have provided for the residents of Weston-super-Mare and their children.”

A year later, Ascot Property Management submitted a planning application to North Somerset Council to turn the building on Ellenborough Park into nine flats, of which seven would be two-bedroom flats and two would be one-bedroom. The renovation would also involve substantial repairs to the building.

A statement submitted with the application said: “The objective of this project is to produce nine dwellings and restore Ashbrooke House to its former glory, thus enhancing the conservation area.”

Now the council has given the plans the green light. In their report on the plans, council officers said: “The proposal will improve the appearance of the building by tidying rear elevations that have become cluttered and utilitarian over time through piecemeal unsympathetic additions.”

The report added: “The proposed flats are spacious and well laid out, with adequate natural light and provide a good standard of accommodation.”