A former care home in a Leicestershire village could become a new sixth-form school for special educational needs pupils under new plans.

Plans have been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) to change the Grade II-listed building, at 111 Melbourne Road, Ibstock near Coalville, into a new school.

The building, which dates back to 1830, could become a new, standalone sixth-form centre for Forest Way School, a special educational needs (SEN) school in Coalville.

According to the planning documents, Forest Way School is facing "existing pressure" and under the proposed plans, "essential repairs" will take place due to it being in a "poor state".

The new school will house 48 pupils, 20 staff members and include seven staff car parking spaces and one minibus space. The applicant, Open Thinking Partnership (OTP), also said an "agreement" has been reached with Rise Fitness Gym and Ibstock Cricket Club to provide additional parking spaces.

OTP states in the documents that the building was previously the site of the Elms Care Home, a facility for 13 people, before becoming vacant due to "limited facilities".

In terms of traffic arrangements, the documents state that the site is expected to generate about 40 vehicle movements daily, mostly minibuses dropping off pupils, which is only one more movement per day than during the former care home use.

A statement by OTP said: "This is an extremely resourceful use of this

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building and guarantees the future of the Grade II listed property, which is currently in a poor state of repair.

"The proposals seek to respect the character of the listed building by limiting any modifications to those needed to enable the change of use and secure the long-term future of the building."

Early plans have been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council, and they will either be approved or denied by council officers or the planning committee.