THE GOVERNMENT has approved a plan to sell off old school playing fields in York for housing, allowing the council to start work on its plans for a health and wellbeing centre on the site.

Builders have this week moved in at the old Burnholme Community College site off Bad Bargain Lane in east York, to start demolishing old school buildings and constructing new library and community facilities.

The work can start because the Department for Education has consented to the sale of land on the south of the site, which is a key step for the project.

Cllr Carol Runciman, executive member for adult social care and health, said: “I am pleased that this important project is taking another key step forward.

"The plans for Burnholme offer a unique opportunity to deliver a range of new facilities in this part of York, and I look forward to seeing them progress further.

York Press:

"This site is a part of our plans to modernise older persons’ accommodation but will also offer great community facilities for residents.”

The council plan is for a new care home to be built on the site, along with a community and library building, health centre and housing.

From this week, all the school’s classroom blocks and dining hall will be demolished, but the old school hall will be refurbished and surrounded by new changing facilities, and buildings to house a community and library facility called The Centre @ Burnholme.

The final plan is for the centre to include a library and cafe, music rooms and recording studios, a learning kitchen, community space and meeting rooms, and new facilities for the Burnholme Childcare Nursery.

York Press:

The contractor carrying out the demolition work is Bradley Demolition who will be responsible for site safety. Construction on the new buildings is scheduled to start in April.

The Burnholme plan is part of a wider older people’s accommodation overhaul, and next month the council is due to announce a deal with a private company to build and run a new care home on the site.