Nottingham firm Bildurn announces Lilley and Stone School in Newark as latest acquisition

A Nottingham firm of developers has announced that the former Lilley and Stone School, described as Newark’s most dangerous playground, as its latest acquisition.

The school on London Road, which has been plagued by break-ins and damage, is the subject of highly-controversial redevelopment plans.

These include building homes on school land top offset the cost of bringing back into use the listed buildings that are on site.

A building on the site was torched recently, prompting police and fire services to warn youths to stay away from the buildings, many of which contain dangerous asbestos.

The school site is owned by the Lilley and Stone Trustees.

A spokesperson for the trustees said that “We are pleased to announce that we have brought Bildurn in to be our development partner for the former Lilley and Stone School.

“We look forward to continuing with our plans to regenerate the site and deliver a lasting legacy for the school.

“Despite our best efforts it has been very challenging to fully secure a site of this scale and complexity within the town centre. Doing so has put great financial strain on the trust and has seen substantial sums spent securing the site, money that could otherwise have been spent on young people’s education across Newark.

“Bildurn are a local developer who have extensive experience working with listed buildings and regenerating heritage buildings. They will also help to enhance site security to protect the site from future damage being caused as a result of anti-social behaviour.”

Bildurn had already announced the purchase of the school on its twitter feed, saying “3rd Acquisition of the year complete at Bildurn with the purchase of the former Lilley & Stone School, Newark.”

The trustees said Bildurn had introduced a range of new security measures, including an extensive CCTV system as well as 24/7 onsite security staff who have been patrolling the site with dogs.

Local resident Tom Green said the fire had happened since the new security measures had been introduced.

“There has been a major incident at the school site and what might have been a valuable and useful building, that was in very sound re-usable condition, has been completely destroyed by fire,” he said.

“This is a very unfortunate incident and it is vital that steps are taken to ensure that it is not repeated in any of the other buildings.

“Any development is subject to formal application under Planning and Building Control legislation, and demolition under Environmental regulations.

“The site should be protected until this process has run its course, and failure of the authorities, the trustees or owners to ensure that it is so could be viewed at best as negligent, if not worse.

“These circumstances suggest that exceptional action by those with the responsibility to protect the site and the listed buildings on it should be taken urgently, in compliance with the existing legislation.

“There has been significant activity on the site during the past two weeks, involving security and dog-handler presence, repair of access barriers, new chain barriers across the parking area and temporary WC accomodation for security staff and building workers.

“On whose behalf has this been carried out? Has the ownership and therefore responsibility for the site changed?

There is still no update on when a planning application for the site will be submitted.

Plans drawn up include the redevelopment of two listed buildings, as well as new employment space, providing opportunities for co-working, start-ups and businesses and a community outdoor area.

Because the land is owned by the former school’s board of trustees, the redevelopment will result in profits from the scheme being re-invested in education in the community.

The development would also deliver funding for local sports facilities and services.

Campaigners opposed to the development want to see rival proposals drawn up that include a wildlife corridor.

Nottingham firm, Bildurn Properties says on its website it is commited to delivering innovative schemes of the highest quality. Bildurn's aim is to create developments.

Since the early 1990s, it say its clients range from offices to retailers, hotel and leisure operators, and from commercial businesses to social enterprises and residential occupiers.

Recent projects either concluded or announced include Granby, 9 Station Street, Nottingham, which is 12 luxury apartments delivered as part of a conversion project of the former police station immediately opposite Nottingham Midland Station; new student residential development close to Nottingham Trent University on Huntingdon Street of 293 bedrooms arranged over seven stories; the Grade II former St Mary’s School in the Lace Market converted to offices; The Gresham on Carrington Street and 11 Station Street now anew landmark development providing substantial brand new Grade A office accommodation.