THE old Lowfield school site in York should be transformed into homes for older people, according to those who live around the site.

Councillors in Westfield, the area around the old school buildings, ran a survey to find out what neighbours wanted for the land.

The results show that a care home, homes for older people and bungalows are among the most popular proposals.

They also show that as many as 60 per cent of people who live nearby do not want to see a new mental health hospital built on the land, and many are worried about losing the open space of the old school sports fields.

Westfield ward councillor Andrew Waller said: “Residents are clearly supportive of the plans to once again have a care home and housing for elderly people on the footprint of the former school which takes into account the limited nearby road network.

“However, three quarters of residents expressed concern about the loss of the school fields in a neighbourhood where there is already very little open public space.”

He added: “Given the problems that other residents have had with a protracted building work associated with the former Our Lady’s School development site close by, it is important to minimise the time of disruption from building at this location.”

The survey shows that many people - around 60 per cent of those who took part - see a lot of positives in the council’s plans for the site, and most do not want “piecemeal” development.

Around three quarters of people said they wanted more public amenity space, and more than 80 per cent liked the idea of a police reporting desk being established around Front Street.

The Lowfields site was once earmarked by the city council as the location for a new “super care home” but that plan was ditched early last year when council staff said it would not be financially viable.

In July this year the council revealed new plans to redevelop Lowfields on a similar scheme to the former Burnholme Community College - which is set to become a health and wellbeing campus with a care home, health facilities, community areas, and housing.

The council has said it will hold a formal consultation about the project with people nearby, and work would probably start in late 2018.