DEVELOPERS are set to put forward proposals to build homes on part of a school site in Thornbury.

Residents have received an invitation to a public consultation where proposals for two, three and four bedroom houses as well as a number of apartments on the Castle School sixth form site will be outlined.

In a letter to residents, Aequus Construction Ltd said they would be submitting proposals for a ‘high-quality residential development’ on land currently home to Castle School sixth form following its move to the school's main site which is currently undergoing a multi-million pound revamp.

The letter said the developers are looking to discuss the proposals to repurpose the school buildings into a number of ‘modern energy efficient sustainable homes’ in Gloucester Road, Thornbury.

The letter said: “The emerging proposals are for a high quality sustainable residential scheme to include a mix of 2,3, and 4 bed houses along with 1 and 2 bed apartments a percentage of which will be affordable homes and public open spaces.

“The existing school buildings will be repurposed into residential accommodation maintaining any important historic features with new buildings designed to reflect the character of the surrounding area whilst considering environmental issues.”

Aqeuus said a pre-application enquiry was submitted to South Gloucestershire Council in March and a south west design review panel was carried out in September.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: “Our number one priority is to improve school standards and we have a long-standing aspiration to improve the sixth form provision for young people in Thornbury and the surrounding communities as part of this.

"We look forward to progressing this goal with the delivery of a modern, environmentally friendly building at the Castle School’s main site on Park Road, providing them with an excellent learning environment that helps them achieve the most out of their time at the school – part of a £16.7 million investment by the council and CSET to transform and update both Castle School and Marlwood.

“This significant investment is only possible in part through the re-utilisation of the existing Gloucester Road site for new homes which will be delivered by Aequus in partnership with the council.

"Focusing its efforts on reusing brownfield sites enables the council to continue to meet its requirements for housing delivery whilst protecting South Gloucestershire’s beautiful greenbelt from speculative development.

“As part of the efforts to ensure local people have a chance to fully engage with these proposals and provide feedback as early into the process as possible before an application is submitted, Aequus are inviting residents to the public consultation event at Castle School’s sixth form hall where they can find out more and ask any questions about the plans.

“Once a planning application has been submitted to the council, people will again be able to provide feedback on the proposals, and the planning process will determine if the planned development is acceptable.”

The public consultation will be held on November 14 at Castle school between 4pm and 8pm.